Actually it’s an incredibly smart culturally sensitive move - it allows the Chinese to save face.
Instead of making it the West vs China the perception has been shifted to Trump trying to get fairer trade deals for the US even with close allies.
As such even the technocrats know the focus is only on China because they are the worst offender on trade.
It helps keep trade issues limited to trade.
Actually it’s an incredibly smart culturally sensitive move - it allows the Chinese to save face.
Instead of making it the West vs China the perception has been shifted to Trump trying to get fairer trade deals for the US even with close allies.