What does a Trump presidency mean for China?
Democracy may be tarnished and human rights put on the back burner, but Trump’s unpredictability and need to project power mean it’s not time to break out the moutai just yet
The American media has a penchant for describing diplomatic relationships as if they are sporting events where a win for one side is necessarily a loss for the other.
Some commentators have said Donald Trump’s victory benefits China. The American journal Foreign Policy for example carried an article the day after the election headlined “China Just Won the US Election”. It argued Beijing would reap geopolitical gains as other Association of Southeast Asian Nation (Asean) countries would follow the Philippines and Malaysia in tilting towards China, that the American model of democracy was now less attractive, and because Trump would pay less attention to human rights.
Views like this distort a far more complex reality.
The US-China relationship is multi-faceted with both cooperative and competitive elements. Even if there are gains in one area, these may be offset by losses in others. The conclusion that China benefits is an oversimplification. In so far as Trump’s unexpected victory has enhanced global political and economic uncertainties, it has increased the risks for everyone.
Watch: Hong Kong supporters of Trump elated over win
