China-US ties may improve if Trump goodwill signals ‘manifest in tangible actions’

International relations expert Wang Jisi cites several positive signals from US president-elect, including on Taiwan

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China-US ties are widely expected to face fresh uncertainties after Donald Trump returns to the White House on January 20. Photo: Reuters

Published: 7:40pm, 4 Jan 2025Updated: 8:06pm, 4 Jan 2025

Ties between China and the US could improve under Trump, a top Chinese expert on international relations has said, citing initial signs of goodwill from the incoming US president.

Wang Jisi, founding president of the Institute of International and Strategic Studies at Peking University, said the positive signals included the president-elect’s repeated calls to better communicate with China and to collaborate on world issues, and even inviting Chinese President Xi Jinping to his inauguration on January 20.

If the goodwill expressed did “manifest in tangible actions”, it could help foster greater consensus and potentially improve relations, Wang told the China-US Focus website in an interview published on Saturday.

“If the leaders of both countries enhance communication, seek intersections of convergent interests, and establish more strategic consensus … the situation for the bilateral relations may not necessarily deteriorate,” he said.

Wang Jisi says the key to better ties will be for both sides to clarify their red lines. Photo: Baidu

China-US ties are widely expected to face fresh uncertainties with Trump in office, given his campaign pledge to impose stiff tariffs on China as the trade and tech wars continue. Many other countries, including US allies in Nato and Asia, are also bracing for the return of Trump and his isolationist and protectionist “America first” agenda.