Trump's Team Catches the CCP Off Guard

U.S. President Donald Trump. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

[People News] U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office early next year. Reports suggest that despite the CCP's significant efforts, they have failed to secure meetings with officials on Trump's transition team. Former White House Asia adviser Evan Medeiros told the Financial Times that Trump's victory caught the CCP "off guard." Experts interpret this as evidence that while Trump's future moves remain uncertain, the CCP's fundamental approach of trying to build relationships with the U.S. government is flawed.

On November 19, the Financial Times cited sources revealing that CCP officials have been shuttling between Washington and New York, hoping to establish connections with intermediaries who could bridge communication with Trump. However, all efforts have proven futile. Beijing is reportedly as frantic as "ants on a hot pan," desperate to understand, "What does Trump want?"

According to the report, sources disclosed that Xie Feng, China's ambassador to the U.S., has intensified outreach activities in recent months, hosting dozens of former U.S. officials and China experts at his residence. However, CCP officials have been "unlucky," as many, including those on Capitol Hill, view meetings with Chinese officials as "unconstructive."

Yao-Yuan Yeh, Chair of International Studies at the University of St. Thomas, told Dajiyuan that the CCP has long perceived Trump as a transactional negotiator. Beijing believes everything is negotiable as long as it benefits both parties. In the past, the CCP has used this mindset to navigate U.S. policymaking, attempting to influence decisions. However, Yeh noted that both Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. still adhere to core values that transcend transactional exchanges.

Yeh explained, "For Trump, becoming president is not primarily about increasing his personal wealth or advancing personal interests—it’s about the welfare of the nation. His primary national interest is to maintain U.S. dominance. The CCP’s fundamental approach is flawed; Trump is unlikely to sacrifice U.S. interests or relationships for personal gain." This mismatch in thinking is precisely why the CCP has been unable to establish any dialogue mechanism with Trump's team.

During his presidential campaign this year, Donald Trump stated that if elected, he would raise tariffs on Chinese imports to 60% to reduce the U.S.-China trade deficit.

Yao-Yuan Yeh, Chair of International Studies at the University of St. Thomas, remarked that this move by Trump would have a significant and devastating impact on the CCP. He added that the resulting effects on China’s internal dynamics are so unpredictable that even the CCP itself cannot foresee or counter them.

Associate Professor of Political Science at National Taiwan University, Chen Shih-Min, highlighted that Trump’s primary policy focus would be on tariffs, tax cuts, and immigration, with tariffs primarily targeting China due to the substantial trade imbalance between the two countries. Trump aims to reduce the trade deficit and persuade China to stop hindering the return of U.S. manufacturing jobs, thereby improving employment opportunities for Americans. As a result, Chen noted, Trump’s team is unlikely to seek negotiations with the CCP.

Chen further explained that China’s slowing economy, rising unemployment, and declining incomes have significantly increased public discontent. Under such circumstances, if Trump were to implement a 60% tariff, it could reduce China’s annual economic growth rate by 2%, causing considerable disruption to its economy and society.

On November 16, CCP leader Xi Jinping met with U.S. President Joe Biden. The White House emphasized the importance of "responsibly managing competition" to prevent conflict. Xi, on the other hand, warned: "If we treat each other as rivals or enemies, engaging in vicious competition and mutual harm, U.S.-China relations will face setbacks or even regression."

Political commentator Zhong Yuan wrote in Dajiyuan that Xi likely finds it difficult to directly reach out to U.S. President-elect Trump, so he used his final meeting with Biden to send a message to Trump indirectly. Although Trump has not yet taken office, his diplomatic direction is becoming clear. Xi’s tough rhetoric may signal that a new storm in U.S.-China relations is unavoidable.