It would be an understatement to describe the past six months of Sino-American relations as a bizarre roller-coaster. It would be difficult – and frankly unrealistic – to seek predictability and consistency in the outward manifestation of the Trump administration’s China policy. In April, Trump raised baseline tariffs on China to a staggering 145%, whilst Chinese tariffs on American goods reached 125%. Such co-existence may be anchored by considerations of convenience or prudential interests, and ultimately uneasy given structural factors spurring antagonism. Watch hereUnpacking Donald Trump’s Likely MotivationsWhat, then, accounts for Trump’s latest antics?