Navigating US-China Relations Under Trump — Interview with Senior CASS Analyst Yuan Zheng
"For those of us who study the US, there used to be a sense of closeness among a significant number of scholars who saw much to learn from America."
Today’s edition features another excellent South China Morning Post interview, this time with Yuan Zheng (袁征), deputy director of CASS’s Institute of American Studies. Many thanks to them for allowing Sinification to share it here. — Thomas
Key Points
Trump’s stance on China is still in flux. He is less focused on ideology and more concerned with tangible gains and achievements he can "boast about".
Thus, Beijing’s best strategy is to prevent any particular faction within his administration from taking the lead on China. It should ensure that when it comes to China, Trump remains the one calling the shots.
Beijing must also demonstrate to “far-right hawks like Rubio and Waltz” that it cannot be brought to its knees nor overthrown. Only then will they begin to respect China, and Sino-US relations have a chance to stabilise.
The most effective way to engage with the Trump administration is through private channels.
If direct contact with Trump himself proves difficult, communication should b…