The Chinese Empire was surrounded by vassal states, which acknowledged their military and cultural subordination in the form of tribute payments in exchange for protection and some degree of autonomy in domestic affairs. It is reasonable to assume that Xi and the CCP aspire to something similar in China’s back yard today.
It would appear that Trump does, too; his aggressive behavior towards Canada and Mexico serves no purpose except to deliver the message that he is the boss. Based on Vance’s speech on AI, it seems that the EU is about to get the same treatment; we will agree to provide protection from Putin and the Chinese in exchange for acceptance of American dominance in trade and technology.
The message won’t go over well in the EU. The irony, of course, is that the reactionary European nationalist parties that purport to be allied with MAGA will lead the charge against American hegemony. Does Trump really think that Marine Le Pen wants to make America, and not France, great again?