How LA protests might force China to rethink its approach to US ties

Name: Trump vows to ‘liberate’ Los Angeles as protests spread to other major US cities
Uploaded: 2025-06-12T13:00:09.000Z
Duration: 4 min 36 s
Description: Trump vows to ‘liberate’ Los Angeles as protests spread to other major US cities

US unrest diverts Donald Trump’s attention from China, but analysts warn domestic struggles could have spillover effects on foreign policy

Reading Time:3 minutes

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Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies fire a non-lethal weapon at a man during a protest in Los Angeles, California on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

Meredith Chen

Published: 9:00pm, 12 Jun 2025

The unrest in Los Angeles has revealed US domestic tensions that could momentarily divert Donald Trump’s attention from his China policies, potentially requiring a recalibration of Beijing’s approach towards Washington, according to Chinese analysts.

One international relations expert urged Beijing to adopt a more pragmatic approach towards US ties and shift its focus to adapt to the conservative turn in American politics.

After days of demonstrations in downtown Los Angeles over citywide US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, thousands of people across the US joined protests and rallies opposing the sweeping enforcement actions targeting unauthorised immigrants, with hundreds of protesters arrested.

Parts of downtown Los Angeles were under curfew for a second night on Wednesday.

A federal judge will hold a hearing on Thursday over California’s request to block the Trump administration from deploying troops in Los Angeles to quell the unrest – an action California governor Gavin Newsom alleged was “illegal” and violated state sovereignty.

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Trump vows to ‘liberate’ Los Angeles as protests spread to other major US cities

Pang Zhongying, an international affairs expert at Sichuan University, said the domestic turmoil in the US was likely to divert the White House’s attention. And with midterm elections approaching next year, this diversion might offer a window for eased tensions or warmer ties between China and the US, he added.