The Fox News Rundown From Washington: What We Know About The Trade Deal With China
Nov 1, 2025
Michael Allen, a former National Security Council Senior Director, shares insights on the recent U.S.-China trade tensions, emphasizing the need for skepticism about China's economic commitments. He discusses the implications of China's maritime aggression and the necessity for a strong U.S. presence in the South China Sea. Retired Ambassador James B. Story highlights Venezuela's regime instability, its ties with foreign powers, and the ongoing impact of corruption on the economy, painting a complex picture of both regional and global security dynamics.
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Trade Truce Averts Worst Case
- Michael Allen says the Trump-Xi meeting staved off the worst export controls and added short-to-medium term stability to US-China ties.
- He warns China could still delay critical minerals and rare earths exports that the US needs for defense and electronics.
Urgency To Diversify Critical Minerals
- The US is too dependent on China for critical minerals and must 'run faster' to develop domestic and allied supply chains.
- Allen says collapsing permitting processes may help but opening mines will still take time.
South China Sea Aggression Escalates
- Allen calls China's South China Sea activity increasingly aggressive, using coast guard vessels to project power from manmade islands.
- He frames US presence as keeping sea lanes open, not dominating them, and warns against Chinese regional dominance.