US-China confrontation here to stay after election, says influential Beijing commentator

Renmin professor Jin Canrong tells forum the main difference will be whether the next president takes a ‘coarse’ or ‘refined’ approach

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The United States will elect its next president on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

Published: 8:50pm, 2 Nov 2024Updated: 9:19pm, 2 Nov 2024

Competition between the United States and China appears inevitable, but the result of next week’s presidential election will determine whether Washington’s tactics are “coarse” or “refined”, a leading academic has said.

Vice-President Kamala Harris has a better chance of winning the election, Jin Canrong, vice dean of the school of international studies at Renmin University, told a forum at the university, adding that she would be “more refined and more systematic… and more covert” in her approach.

In contrast, he said Donald Trump “may be more simple and coarse” but his position now was “milder” than it had been during his presidency and showed subtle changes.

“Trump is a bit like the kind of people who ‘kill the old master with random punches’ - making you dizzy with random punches,” Jin told a forum at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies last month, acccording to a transcript published by the university on social media on Saturday.

Other observers have said Trump will create greater uncertainty and might reverse efforts to ease strained ties, whereas Harris, who is likely to continue President Joe Biden’s approach, will be more predictable.

“No matter who comes to power, China will remain the main opponent. There is no difference in strategy, but how they treat us tactically,” said Jin, adding that “big characteristics remain unchanged”.