In the early days of Donald Trump's presidency, tensions between the U.S. and China appeared to ease as Trump's aggressive rhetoric against China did not translate into immediate action. While Trump had previously threatened hefty tariffs and criticized Chinese products, he shifted focus to Canada and Mexico, leading Beijing to hope for a reset in relations. Chinese leaders, aware of the potential for backlash, are being diplomatic and positioning themselves to leverage potential partnerships with countries like Russia while preparing for any future economic retaliation from the U.S.
"Trump loves esteem, and China is clearly showing him the esteem that he wants," said Xin Qiang, a professor of international relations at Fudan University in Shanghai.
Since being sworn in, Trump paused a ban on TikTok and held fire on launching a trade war with China, vowing instead to target Mexico and Canada with higher tariffs.
But his first three days back in the White House have not included broad attacks on China.
In the apparent lull, Beijing has been angling for a reset in strained U.S.-China ties, even as it touts an arsenal of retaliatory tools and a network of partners.
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