The outcome of the US presidential election holds significant implications for the complex relationship between the United States and China, the world's two largest economies and rival superpowers. In China, where news about the election is heavily censored, the focus has been more on the spectacle rather than the substance of the event. Many ordinary Chinese citizens believe that regardless of whether candidate A or candidate B wins, the tensions between the US and China will persist.
There is a prevailing sentiment in China that the US government is determined to curb China's global influence, irrespective of who occupies the White House. During his term, former President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Chinese goods, targeted Chinese tech companies like Huawei, and used derogatory language when referring to the Covid-19 virus. President Joe Biden has adopted a more diplomatic tone but has continued to express concerns about China's national security threat.
Biden's administration has implemented measures such as investment and export controls on Chinese tech industries and tariffs. Additionally, Biden's vocal support for Taiwan, a sensitive issue for Beijing, has raised eyebrows in China. Beijing claims Taiwan as its own territory, and any support for the island democracy is considered a 'red line' in US-China relations.
Despite the change in leadership in the US, the fundamental issues in the US-China relationship remain unresolved. The ongoing power struggle between the two nations is likely to persist, with both countries taking measures to protect their interests and assert their dominance on the global stage.
