Everything Stinks When You Wear a Foot-Binding Cloth as a Scarf

Taiwan and the U.S. officially signed a reciprocal trade agreement yesterday, and while the government stressed that Taiwan and the U.S. have friendly trade relations, people are worried about the impact it will have on relevant industries. In the face of a Donald Trump administration that cares about its own interests above all else, can Taiwan really feel secure?

Leaders from Western countries have recently visited China, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. They hope that improved relations with China will bring increased economic benefits to both parties. Trump is furious about this and has warned Britain that doing business with Beijing is extremely dangerous. Trump is especially angry at Prime Minister Carney and has threatened that if Canada and China reach a trade agreement, he will increase tariffs on Canadian imports to 100%.

Trump’s commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, believes that the U.S. is unlikely to raise tariffs on the U.K. that much because Prime Minister Starmer hasn’t adopted Carney’s confrontational attitude. Carney said some harsh words, but what, exactly, did he say that angered Trump so much?

In his speech, “Principled and Pragmatic: Canada’s Path at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Carney pointed out that the old world order has broken down. Great powers are using their economies as weapons; tariffs are instruments used to pressure others; and financial infrastructure is being used for coercion. Carney stated that the “middle power countries” such as Canada, Australia, France and South Korea are facing the most severe challenges, yet also have the richest potential opportunities. Middle powers must act together. If we aren’t at the negotiating table, we’re on the menu, Carney said. Given the might of great powers, middle powers must face reality, forge their own strength and form an alliance.

Carney’s words illustrate the reality of continuing as a vassal of the U.S. Being trapped in a stranglehold and squeezed for money will become unbearable in the long run. Carney called upon middle powers to join together and fend for themselves. How is this harsh? What Trump is really furious about is that Carney signed an agreement with Beijing that reduces the import tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles in Canada from 100% to 6%. The two countries reportedly will use their own currencies to trade, weakening the hegemony of the U.S. dollar.

Speaking harshly is Trump’s calling card. He insisted on taking over Greenland and accused Denmark of being ungrateful. He disparaged the immigration policies of European countries and ridiculed the dismal state of their economies. He accused the United Nations of creating trouble, being all talk and no action and unable to resolve wars. He was displeased that China, India and Europe still buy Russian oil. He launched a trade war and proclaimed that America is “not going to be the ‘Stupid Country’ any longer.” He has even repeatedly accused Taiwan of stealing America’s chip manufacturing industry.

Taking his cue from Trump, Commerce Secretary Lutnick’s speech during a dinner at the Davos Forum was even more arrogant and rude. Lutnick attacked Europe for losing competitiveness, something that led to economic suicide, and falling utterly behind in the areas of AI, battery manufacturing and digital manufacturing. He criticized the U.K. for having vast oil and gas reserves in the North Sea yet producing only a third of the power it did in 1999. He mocked European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde for busily printing money to fill the gaps. He said that it was foolish of the U.S. to return Greenland to Denmark after it had reclaimed it from the Nazis and that Trump should take Greenland back. He asserted that Europe and Denmark should be grateful to the U.S. and not oppose it.

The crowd heckled Lutnick during his speech, and Lagarde and the Danish prime minister walked out of the dinner, unable to bear it any longer. Lutnick laughed grimly, saying, “You can boo! But you can’t boo away exchange rate fluctuations and tariff lists. Reality is already here.”*

Trump said later that “the truth is painful. Their economy is rotting. What else can Lagarde do but run away? She wasn’t walking out — she was running away.”*

The proverb, “Everything stinks when you use a foot-binding cloth as a scarf,” describes the utter failure to conduct oneself in society. Many people believe that amicability brings wealth. “Make America Great Again” is nothing more than a way to make more money. There are many ways to make money. Will wielding a big stick like the U.S. is doing and ridiculing, reprimanding, disdaining and humiliating long-time allies really work? Can Taiwan safely bet on this kind of America?

The author is a film director.

*Editor’s note: These quoted remarks, although accurately translated, could not be independently verified.