100 Days of Trump: Donald Trump Presidency accelerating the rise of China

The unpredictability of Donald Trump's Presidency has helped accelerate the rise of China as a regional leader in the Asia Pacific, according to a new publication from The Australian National University (ANU) evaluating the first 100 days of the new US administration.

The publication - The Trump Administration's First 100 Days: What Should Asia Do? - provides a series of essays from leading ANU experts on how Trump has affected Asia and how the region is likely to react.

Project leader Professor Michael Wesley, Dean of the ANU College of Asia & the Pacific, said the early days of Mr Trump's leadership had provided China the space and legitimacy to double down on its bid for regional leadership.

"The 45th President underpins all of Beijing's well-honed messages about why the region needs new leadership - America's commitment is uncertain, its motives are suspect and its instincts ultimately don't have Asia's interests at heart," Professor Wesley said.

Professor Wesley said a key factor will be how accepting Asia is of Chinese leadership, with Beijing's own credentials not without problems.

"China's assertions of its prerogatives in the East and South China Seas have raised many concerns in the region about what Chinese regional leadership may actually entail," he said.

The publication includes essays from leading experts including:

• Dr Jane Golley, Associate Director, Australian Centre on China in the World
• Professor Rory Medcalf, Head of the ANU National Security College
• Professor Frank Jotzo, Director, ANU Centre for Climate Economics and Policy
• Associate Professor Brendan Taylor, Head of the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs
• Professor Warwick McKibbin, Head of the ANU Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis

To launch the publication Professor Wesley together with Dr Golley and Professor McKibbin addressed the National Press Club on Wednesday.

The Trump Administration's First 100 Days: What Should Asia Do? can be seen here - http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/trump-100-days