China has yet again confirmed just how brisk and calculating it can be in the world today. Despite highly negative comments and insults from President Trump during his campaign, it seems United State’s 45th President is slowly softening up his stance on China.
But how did China do it?
China has been chipping away at the incessant Trump administration for quite some time. During the Chinese New Year, musings went up concerning Trump’s failure to send a Chinese New Year message of goodwill to the people of China. The Chinese government acted deftly. Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai reached out to Ivanka, President Trump’s daughter. She attended a highly publicized New Year function at the Beijing Embassy, casting a positive light on China’s ties with the U.S.A. Further, Tiffany Trump attended Chinese designer Taoray Wang’s fashion show at the New York Fashion Week. Her front row seat attendance brought up the image that perhaps the ice was thawing between the world’s top superpowers.
It seems that private companies are also answerable to the Communist party in charge of China. Jack Ma, China’s most popular private entrepreneur, has in talks with President Trump promised the creation of a million jobs for U.S. citizens. These jobs would be created through his e-commerce platform Alibaba by the sale of products from the United States. The Chinese New Year greetings message to the U.S. President put up on a Times Square billboard in New York was sponsored by 100 Chinese firms. This shows that even the private sector is pulling its weight in the bid for stronger ties between China and U.S.A.
Within law circles, things have also turned to better President Trump’s business enterprises in China. Trump has been able to get commercial rights to his name for his construction services within China. This case had previously lagged on for decades but has been quickly concluded over the recent past.
President Xi’s delayed and informed responses have also had a part to play in warming up to Trump’s administration. China has been popular in the past due to its quick retribution whenever it feels the country’s sovereignty has been looked down on. China has remained silent despite past insults during President Trump’s campaign. Government officials in Trump’s administration have also made comments on treating issues on the South China Sea with a heavier hand. However, China has practiced a lot of self-restraint.
With advice from Defense Secretary James Mutts and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, President Xi has played his part carefully during recent interactions with President Trump. This sometimes included delaying calls to the White House until both Mutts and Tillerson were on the phone as well. This has played well for China, resulting in a new U..S commitment to the One China Policy. Claims on a new position in Taiwan have also been consequently sidelined. President Xi’s reputation was also left intact, advantageous to him in his rule over China.
Discussions on economic policy have also been held between U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Chinese key players. Further, Secretary Tillerson has been able to meet his Chinese alternate, Wang Yi. An agreement to a relationship between the two Presidents involving “no conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect, and win-win co-operation” has also been realized.
Overall, the relationship between the United States and China is improving albeit momentarily. It has only been one month, with more dimensions and players in this relationship to be considered over time.
