Andbydownplayinghumanrights, Trumphasrelieved a non-economicsourceofAmericanpressureontheauthoritarianChineseregime.
JustasPresidentTrumppredictsbigeconomicbenefitsfrom a Chinatradedeal, hisaidesinsisttheadministrationisupholdingAmericaninfluenceinotherways.
A WhiteHousespokesmanquestionedtheideathatTrumphasdownplayedhumanrightsatall, andnotedthattheadministrationispursuingeconomic, securityandgovernancecooperationwithcountriesintheIndo-PacificregionwithoutTPP.