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My Take | Amid the warnings, China and Trump show much-needed willingness to talk
Both sides have been sending positive signals but they must find a way for non-hawkish heads to prevail in a crisis
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The countdown to the inauguration of the next US president has begun in earnest and both Beijing and Donald Trump are sending positive signals.
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One of the most talked-about overtures has been Trump’s unprecedented invitation to Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration. While Xi is not expected to accept it and risk breaking protocol to give Trump a boost, the gesture is at least seen by Beijing and many analysts as a friendly one.
Chinese analysts have also seen some of Trump’s remarks as more genial, despite the broader talk of tariffs and hawkish cabinet picks.
For example, Trump sidestepped a media question on whether the United States would intervene in a military conflict over Taiwan. It was a stark contrast to outgoing US President Joe Biden who has said openly that the US would step in if Beijing used force against the island.
In comments published last week, Wang Jisi, an influential Chinese scholar on China-US relations and a former adviser to the Chinese foreign ministry, said it was a good sign that Trump was avoiding provocation of Beijing.
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He also said he was optimistic that both sides could manage risks in the Taiwan Strait over the next four years.
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