Once soft on Russia and hard on China, President Donald Trump has reversed course in just a few short weeks.
He's concluded there's more business to be done with Beijing than with Moscow.
Trump's evolving views on those two world powers have brought the U.S. back into alignment with former President Barack Obama's pattern of "great power" politics.
Russia critics welcome Trump's newly hardened tone.
But there's less enthusiasm from America's allies in Asia. Japan and South Korea are concerned Trump will overlook China's aggression toward its neighbors.
It may be that Trump is discovering that China's approach to foreign relations is better suited to achieving his own goals. Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin share a tendency toward nationalist rhetoric that's putting them on a collision course.
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