China Briefing | Why Trump’s trade war is a blessing in disguise for Chinese leaders
Tariffs and the US president’s bluster are tightening the screw, but could be a much-needed reminder of China’s real strength and limitations
Some people in China believe Trump may not want a deal on trade at all, as he wants to play the China card to energise and solidify his electoral base in the run-up to the US midterm elections in November and his presidential re-election campaign in 2020.
Trump is increasingly seen in China as a bogeyman who uses trade as weapon to undermine the country’s authoritarian regime and contain its rise.
Is he indeed? Let me go against the grain by arguing that the Trump presidency could in fact prove a blessing in disguise for Chinese leaders, as they are deliberating on effective ways to move forward with the economy at a time of great uncertainty – partly fuelled by his trade war.
Over the past few months, Chinese state media have started to portray Trump and the trade hawks in his administration as harbouring ulterior motives to use trade and investment restrictions as excuses to stymie China’s progress and derail its efforts to become a world power capable of challenging the global supremacy of the US.
