China Daily Global Edition (USA)
China advised on dealing with Trump
In his first 10 days in the Oval Office, US President Donald Trump has already begun delivering on his top campaign promises, from ditching the trans-Pacific trade deal and building a wall on the Mexican border, to slapping a temporary ban on immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries.
As the president’s actions have stirred up a firestorm of criticism, observers of Sino-US relations are cautioning Beijing to remain “prudent” and “prepared” for a head-to-head with Washington in negotiations.
They also suggest the economic powers avoid a trade war for the good of both countries.
“This past week has been shocking,” Gordon H. Chang, former director of Center for East Asian Studies at Stanford University, told China Daily in a written interview.
Chang said he believed the chances for a tough, dangerous period ahead in US-China relations have increased as Trump seems to be pushing his agenda aggressively without thought or deliberation.
Asked about the likelihood of Trump fulfilling every one of his China-related campaign promises, the professor of history said, “He won’t forget about China; he also plays to the public, and China bashing is popular in the US.”
Chang said China should be “careful but firm” and “prudent” and see what Trump will do.
Nicholas Hope, former director of the China program at the Stanford Center for International Development, said that although he had no grounds to conclude that Trump intends to follow through on all of his campaign promises, actions to date suggest that he intends to, no matter how inappropriate the actions may seem to the US’ long-term interests.
“As the two largest trading powers, at all costs the two countries must avoid being drawn into a punishing trade war that could send the world back to the 1930s,” Hope said.
At a “US-China Relations in Transition” discussion at the Brookings Institution last Tuesday, Barbara Franklin, former US secretary of Commerce, also weighed in on the issue.
“A trade war, as some are predicting, harms both countries,” she said. “I think it will be averted.”
She suggested the top leaders of the two countries meet and talk regularly. “They should, and, I hope, will start the kind of communication and negotiation process that will be a win for both countries and the global economy,” Franklin said.
Zhang Zhixin, head of American political studies at the Institute of American Studies, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said the US under Trump’s watch is ready to defend its economic and security interests, even at the risk of taking on other countries, be they friend or foe.
Trump's determination to discourage US companies Iran investing overseas to expand employment, in fact, has been welcomed by many underprivi-leged American, said Zbang. Keeping 'illegal migrants' at bay in the name of combat-ing terrorism, although highly controversial. is arguably an effective way of securing jobs for local blue-collar workers he added. "That does not bode well for Beijing, which may have to prepare for a head-to-head with Washington on trade, diplomatic and security negotiations,' said Zhang. Under Trump's tougher vetting of immigrants. which he said is needed to protect America flan terror attack he has ordered 120 day hold on allowing refugees into the US. an indefinite Mn on Syr-ian refugees. Ova a 913-day Ear on citizens from seven pre-dominantly Muslim counties "How far Trump will push the envelope on immigration and what he might do to bypass institutional barriers remains unpredictable: said Wang Dong. an associate professor of international studies at Peking University and secretary gen-eral of the Beijing-based think tank Pang cal Institution. But one thing is clear :' Make America Great Again will tecoucied with continued bitter confrontation s between him and his opponents and the chaos that may fell as he added. Reports said the 111- B work-visa that allows US employers, particularly Silicon Valley giants. to hire top foreign pro-fessionals, also faces a revamp as "part of a larger immigration effort '" he said. Tech sector stocks were down 1 percent on Monday and Asian make to also retreated the next day. It is possible that Trump could muscle through the new order. dampening applications to the annual quota of 6003 set aside for °specialty posi-tions': said Wang. "A renegotiation is also a likely but the pain will soon be felt by US companies and work-Asa applicants a lot of whom are Chinese" he said.