India, March 29 -- United States (US) President Donald Trump's China policy focuses on countering and containing its influence, primarily through economic sanctions. He frequently employs tariffs as strategic tools to weaken China's global economic standing, hoping for consequences for its military strength. However, his geopolitical stance on the South China Sea (SCS) remains ambiguous, given his reluctance to engage in global conflicts, withdrawal from trade and commerce, and international security frameworks with traditional friends and partners.

Despite this, his recent executive actions suggest a continuity, reflecting US interests in the SCS, a key battleground in US-China geopolitical tensions. The US stakes in the region are sign...