>

Why on earth would Trump ever be tough on China, though? They were funneling money to him via his hotels when he was in office, and they gave his daughter a ton of trademarks. He even pays more taxes to China than he does to the US. 
His vitriol in rallies is just performative.
Hmmmm maybe because it would have made their republican overlord look weak?  Whereas right now republicans are going hard on their Cold War with china because democrats hold the senate and White House. >

Trump didn't even know the Chinese were violating airspace and spying.   They may want to go hard, but I can't think of anything weaker on China.