US-China Rivalry and Cooperation under Trump Will Be Intricately Woven Together*
Published in Rossiyskaya Gazeta
(Russia) on 20 January 2025
by Andrey Karneev (link to original)
(Russia) on 20 January 2025
by Andrey Karneev (link to original)
Translated from
by Nane Sarkisian.
Edited by Michelle Bisson.
*Editor’s note: On March 4, 2022, Russia enacted a law that criminalizes public opposition to, or independent news reporting about, the war in Ukraine. The law makes it a crime to call the war a “war” rather than a “special military operation” on social media or in a news article or broadcast. The law is understood to penalize any language that “discredits” Russia’s use of its military in Ukraine, calls for sanctions or protests Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It punishes anyone found to spread “false information” about the invasion with up to 15 years in prison.
Vice Chairman of the People's Republic of China Han Zheng attended Donald Trump's inauguration. This is notable because it means Trump personally invited Xi Jinping, and suggests that exaggerated claims of an apocalypse in Chinese-American relations are, in fact, unfounded. When it comes to Han, it is clear that he holds a crucial and influential position within the government.
The context is as follows: Despite the media-driven panic about a potential collapse in relations, both sides appear determined to continue developing cooperation, even amid their rivalry. This is a key point to consider. While not all issues will be resolved, and trade and economic tensions will likely persist, both Beijing and Washington are committed to maintaining a relationship.
A complete breakdown in relations, it seems, is off the table. Even the much-hyped "decoupling" — a term used to describe a complete separation between the U.S. and China — is unlikely to happen. Instead, the two countries will blend rivalry with cooperation.
Trump has also promised to visit Beijing in the next three months. Notably, during his first term, he received an unprecedented reception in Beijing, unlike any other U.S. president before him. Trump was welcomed right in the imperial Forbidden City! This suggests that Beijing is ready to extend a welcome if needed, showing its willingness to build trust.
I think that if such a visit takes place, the Chinese will try to take Trump's character as a person and a political showman into account. They might thus come up with something unique to showcase the special nature of the relationship between the two leaders.
The symbolic ban of the popular social media app TikTok in the U.S. is a prime example of the rivalry and contradictions that will continue to shape U.S.-China relations. This conflict is essentially a contest for technological dominance in the coming decade. The stakes are incredibly high and have implications for global geopolitics and beyond.
Even if both sides shake hands, exchange pleasantries and put on a friendly front, the underlying rivalry will remain intense. TikTok is just one example — though not the most critical — of this broader tension.
However, this example highlights China’s growing ability to compete in the realms that the U.S. has traditionally dominated — particularly entertainment and communications. China has proven that it can hold its own, if not surpass, the U.S. in these fields.
Vice Chairman of the People's Republic of China Han Zheng attended Donald Trump's inauguration. This is notable because it means Trump personally invited Xi Jinping, and suggests that exaggerated claims of an apocalypse in Chinese-American relations are, in fact, unfounded. When it comes to Han, it is clear that he holds a crucial and influential position within the government.
The context is as follows: Despite the media-driven panic about a potential collapse in relations, both sides appear determined to continue developing cooperation, even amid their rivalry. This is a key point to consider. While not all issues will be resolved, and trade and economic tensions will likely persist, both Beijing and Washington are committed to maintaining a relationship.
A complete breakdown in relations, it seems, is off the table. Even the much-hyped "decoupling" — a term used to describe a complete separation between the U.S. and China — is unlikely to happen. Instead, the two countries will blend rivalry with cooperation.
Trump has also promised to visit Beijing in the next three months. Notably, during his first term, he received an unprecedented reception in Beijing, unlike any other U.S. president before him. Trump was welcomed right in the imperial Forbidden City! This suggests that Beijing is ready to extend a welcome if needed, showing its willingness to build trust.
I think that if such a visit takes place, the Chinese will try to take Trump's character as a person and a political showman into account. They might thus come up with something unique to showcase the special nature of the relationship between the two leaders.
The symbolic ban of the popular social media app TikTok in the U.S. is a prime example of the rivalry and contradictions that will continue to shape U.S.-China relations. This conflict is essentially a contest for technological dominance in the coming decade. The stakes are incredibly high and have implications for global geopolitics and beyond.
Even if both sides shake hands, exchange pleasantries and put on a friendly front, the underlying rivalry will remain intense. TikTok is just one example — though not the most critical — of this broader tension.
However, this example highlights China’s growing ability to compete in the realms that the U.S. has traditionally dominated — particularly entertainment and communications. China has proven that it can hold its own, if not surpass, the U.S. in these fields.
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