Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump on November 9, 2017 in Beijing, China. Thomas Peter-Pool/Getty Images President Trump is nothing if not audacious, even brazen, in charting a course distinct from his presidential predecessors. Yet certain aspects of his policies and behavior resonate with a historical archetype, even if not American: the Chinese emperor. As with the European monarchs or the Roman emperors, the success of the Chinese emperors varied considerably, with some reigning over peace and prosperity and some seeming to preside over - or even instigate - tumult and war. Regardless, the Chinese emperors seem to have many attributes in common with the current U.S. president. 1. Security through Assertiveness Some Chinese emperors, like Qin Shi Huang (259-210 BC), consolidated power through aggressive expansion and subjugation of neighboring states. This demonstration effect served to intimidate potential rivals and solidify internal control. Similarly, Trump's trade tariffs, territorial claims, and aggressive rhetoric towards nations like Mexico and Canada aim to project strength and assert dominance, even at the cost of disrupting traditional relations. 2. Distrust of Alliances The concept of all under heaven (tianxia) in Chinese imperial thought often prioritized unilateral power. Relying on security architecture and mutual defense was not wise. There was a need to be strong. Emperors like Qianlong (1711-1799) were wary of formal alliances, preferring to maintain a position of unchallenged strength. Trump's skepticism of NATO and other multilateral agreements, coupled with his America First doctrine, reflects a similar distrust of alliances, emphasizing self-reliance and national strength. 3. State-Controlled Trade and National Champions Imperial China, especially during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), saw periods of state-controlled trade through tribute systems and the promotion of favored industries. Trump's trade policies, including tariffs and protectionist measures, and his emphasis on national champions in industries like steel and automobiles echo this imperial approach, prioritizing national economic directives over free market principles. 4. Self-Interest Narrowly Defined Historically, Chinese emperors often viewed external conflicts as peripheral, focusing on internal stability and direct threats. There was rarely sensitivity to challenges to the international system, unless China’s interests were directly involved. Trump's minimalist tendencies, his lack of interest in human rights, and his transactional approach to foreign policy, align with this pragmatic, arguably short-sighted, imperial perspective. Other great powers will have their territorial goals and quarrels and this does not normally concern you. It is to be expected, and smaller nations are merely trying to trick you when they seek your support. Morality is not a useful element in foreign policy decision making. 5. Loyalty and Centralized Power Imperial China placed immense value on absolute loyalty to the emperor. The power of the Grand Secretariat and the illegitimacy of dissent were hallmarks of imperial rule. Trump's emphasis on personal loyalty, his lack of interest in dissenting opinions, and his tendency to treat cabinet meetings as platforms for pronouncements rather than collaborative discussions, mirror this imperial model of centralized, unitary authority. Imperial China typically viewed political opposition as a threat to the emperor's mandate. Trump's rhetoric, which frequently demonizes his opponents, and his tendency to view criticism as personal attacks, reflects a similar binary worldview, where dissent is equated with disloyalty. Whether you support Trump and his policies or whether you disapprove, it cannot be disputed that he is driving the policy agenda globally as well as domestically. All other nations are responding to him. There are reasons why imperial China lasted some two millenia. Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Editorial StandardsForbes Accolades