Chinese correspondent

If China was angry with the United States for imposing an additional 10% price on all Chinese products, it did a good job to hide it.
He urged Washington to start talks after repeated warnings that there would be no winners in a trade war.
He held his fire until midnight in Washington – then just when the prices on China have embarked on, Beijing announced reprisal rates from 10 to 15%, from February 10, on various American imports, In particular coal, crude oil and large cars.
The Chinese government may have been calm in the hope of concluding an agreement with Washington to avoid other prices – and to prevent the relationship between the two biggest economies in the world from becoming out of control.
After all, US President Donald Trump agreed to resume with Canada and Mexico a few hours before them take effect. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to speak this week.
The American sample will sting – especially because he adds to a multitude of prices that Trump imposed on his first mandate on tens of billions of dollars in Chinese imports. And the Chinese population is already concerned about their slow economy.
Beijing and Washington previously went to prices. But a lot has changed since Trump 1.0.
On the one hand, the Chinese economy does not depend as much on the United States as in 2020. Beijing strengthened its trade agreements through Africa, South America and Southeast Asia. It is now the largest trading partner of more than 120 countries.
An agreement could still be in sight, but the additional 10% may not offer the lever effect that Trump wants, explains Chong Ja Ian from Carnegie China.
“ Win-Win ” from XI, America withdrew
President Xi Jinping can also see a greater opportunity here.
Trump sowing the division in his own backyard, threatening to even strike the European Union (EU) with prices – all during his first month in power. His actions may have other American allies wondering what reserves them.
On the other hand, China will want to appear a calm, stable and perhaps more attractive global trading partner.
“Trump’s America’s focusing politics will provide challenges and threats to almost all countries in the world,” Yun Sun, Chinese program director at the Stimson Center, told.
“From the point of view of American-Chinese strategic competition, a deterioration in leadership and the credibility of the United States will benefit China. It is unlikely that it turns well for China at the bilateral level, but Beijing will try Surely to make lemonade … “

As the leader of the second world economy, XI has not hidden its ambition for China to lead a Alternative world order.
Since the end of the pandemic has been cocvid, he has traveled a lot and he has supported major international institutions such as the World Bank and agreements such as Paris climate agreements.
Chinese state media have described this as embracing countries around the world and deepening diplomatic ties.
Before that, when Trump interrupted us to finance the WHO In 2020, China promised additional funds. Expectations are high according to which Beijing can intervene to fill American shoes again, after the Washington from the WHO.
The same goes for the freeze of aid which causes such chaos in countries and organizations which have long depended on American financing – China may wish to fill the void, despite an economic slowdown.
During his first day in power, Trump froze all the foreign aid provided by the United Stateswhich is by far the biggest donor in the world in the world. Hundreds of foreign aid programs provided by USAID Ground. Some have since restarted, but help entrepreneurs describe current chaos as the future of the agency is at stake.
Trump’s “America First” doctrine could further weaken Washington’s position as a world leader, explains John Delury, modern China historian and professor at Yonsei University in Seoul.
“The combination of prices on the main trade partners and freezing foreign assistance sends a message to the world of world and to the OECD that the United States is not interested in the international partnership, collaboration”, -It declared to the BBC.
“The coherent message from President XI of the globalization of the” winner “takes on a whole new meaning while America is withdrawn from the world.”
In his candidacy for global governance, Beijing has sought a chance to upset the world order led by the Americans of the last 50 years – and the uncertainty of the presidency of Trump could well be.
New alliances
“That it really gives Beijing a key advantage – I’m a little less sure,” said Chong.
“Many American allies and partners, especially in the Pacific, have a reason to work with Beijing, but they also have reasons to be wary. This is why we have seen Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Australia are partly closer, partly due to apprehensions, they feed towards China.
There is “momentum” for a possible trilateral relationship between Australia, Japan and South Korea, motivated by “the impact of a second Trump administration”, according to the Australian Institute of International Affairs.

All three are concerned about China’s assertion in the Southern China Sea, as well as the Philippines. They are also concerned about a possible war against the autonomous island of Taiwan – Beijing sees it as a province of escape which will ultimately be part of the country and has not excluded the use of force to achieve it.
Taiwan has long been one of the most controversial questions about American-Chinese relations, Beijing condemning any perceived support of Washington for Taipei.
But it can be difficult for Washington to retaliate with signs of Chinese assault when Trump threatens several times to annex Canada or buy Greenland.
Most countries in the region have used a military alliance with Washington to balance their economic relations with China.
But now, suspicious of Beijing and uncertain of the United States, they could create new Asian alliances, without any power of the world.
Calm before the storm
Trump announced American prices on weekends, while Chinese families celebrated the new year and invited the god of fortune to their homes.
The bright red lanterns are currently swinging in the empty streets of Beijing, because most workers left for their hometown during the biggest holidays of the year.
At first, China’s only response had been that it would take legal action and use the World Trade Organization to disseminate its grievances.
But that represents little threat to Washington. The WTO dispute settlement system has actually been closed since 2019, when Donald Trump – during his first mandate, then blocked the appointment of judges to manage calls.
Then China announced reprisals. While the holidays rely on a fence and party officials return to Beijing and at work, they have decisions to make.
Officials had been encouraged in recent weeks by signs that the Trump administration might want to maintain the stable relationship, especially after the two leaders had what Trump called “a great telephone call” last month.
But it will become more difficult, because the Republicans and Democrats are increasingly considering China as the largest foreign policy and the economic threat of the United States.
“The unpredictability of Mr. Trump, his impulsiveness and carelessness will inevitably lead to important shocks in the bilateral relationship,” said Wu Xinbo, professor and director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University.
“In addition, his team contains a lot of hawks, even extreme hawks on China. It is inevitable that the bilateral relationship is confronted with serious disturbances in the next four years.”
China is certainly concerned about its relationship with the United States and the damage that a trade war could make its slowdown in the economy.
But it will also seek means to use the current political pendulum to swing the international community in its own way and in its sphere of influence.