E ven before Donald Trump’s tariff turmoil, it was hard to discern a clear China strategy. With decisions depending largely on presidential whim, his foreign-policy advisers seemed to have split into warring tribes.

With the U.S. and China escalating their trade war, experts say China believes it can both inflict more damage on the U.S. and tolerate more pain.

The editorial board of the Wall Street Journal is questioning whether President Trump has a clear agenda on trade as the tariff war with China heats up. “The reality is that Mr. Trump is