Trump and blunt, loud diplomacyBy Paul Lin 林保華Relations between US President Donald Trump and the EU have been tense over the issue of Greenland. Trump’s manner of expression is overly blunt and simplistic, triggering significant backlash. Leaders of countries lacking political experience might believe they can sell their goods in China’s vast market, assuming that they would benefit due to the higher costs of Chinese products. The three targets — the Panama Canal, Canada and Greenland — ultimately all point toward China and Russia, which align with the interests of Panama, Canada and the EU. Intel’s poaching of former Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co executive vice president Lo Wei-jen (羅唯仁) had nothing to do with Trump nor the company’s genuine American leadership.

Source: Taipei Times January 22, 2026 16:15 UTC