Pence shaping up as powerful VP in Trump team

London

CHINA hawk Robert Lighthizer was tapped on Tuesday as US trade representative as Donald Trump and Mike Pence moved to finalise senior administration appointments. The transition process, headed by Mr Pence ahead of Jan 20's inauguration day, has fortified his position in the Trump team and it looks increasingly possible he may become a very influential vice-president.

In so doing, Mr Pence would follow a pattern in the last quarter of a century whereby the last three incumbents - Joe Biden, Dick Cheney, and Al Gore - all enjoyed sizeable power. Indeed, Mr Cheney - who was a predominant voice in many of George W Bush's decisions, including the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 - is widely viewed as the most powerful holder of that office.