How to gain entrée into Trump’s White House? Beijing is looking for ways

The old ways of making connections and gaining influence aren’t likely to be as reliable in the coming, unpredictable administration.

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Published: 3:00am, 15 Dec 2024Updated: 7:56am, 15 Dec 2024

Beijing, traditionally reliant on its economic muscle, growing importance and elite China-inclined “old friends” to influence Washington, is having a tough time figuring out how to connect with the incoming, unpredictable administration of president-elect Donald Trump, according to analysts and former US officials.

China is hardly alone. Many countries have turned to flattery, golf and appeals to Trump’s self-interest and “America first” agenda.

But Beijing is in a particular bind as it grapples with a swooning economy, deeply unfavourable demographics, deep-seated US suspicion and Washington’s “de-risking” campaign aimed at denying it advanced technology, a pillar that President Xi Jinping sees as seminal for China’s future.

“Chinese officials are having a tough time engaging the Trump team,” said Zack Cooper, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. “Beijing certainly has people it can go to in the US business community, but it is unclear how influential those people will be in changing government policy.”

China’s playbook on gaining access to the White House has historically drawn on business groups like the US Chamber of Commerce, major corporations operating in China, wealthy investors or past political heavyweights like the late Henry Kissinger.

But as Trump rips up playbooks and disregards precedent, even as China’s stock has fallen in Washington, many of those connections have become less valuable, potential liabilities or, like the influential former secretary of state, are no longer living.

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