Why China-U.S. cooperation is imperative under Trump

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Donald Trump is elected the 47th president of the United States. How the China-U.S. relationship will evolve under Trump has been a topic of heated discussion.

No matter who is in the Oval Office, China and the U.S. have one of the world's most important bilateral relationships, bearing on the well-being of not only the two peoples but also the rest of the world. In this context, cooperation is not an option but an imperative.

Economically, China and the U.S. stand as two of the world's top economic powerhouses, with their combined economic output surpassing one-third of the world's total. Despite "China collapse" theories by certain anti-China hawks, American companies, by constantly expanding their investments in the Chinese market, have demonstrated their stance on cooperation.

Apple, for instance, launched a new store in China's Shanghai this March – the second-largest flagship store worldwide. Over 70,000 American firms have invested and operated in China, with nearly 90 percent of their operations profitable. These companies reported improved financial performance in 2023 with increased gains, according to the 2024 China Business Climate Survey Report released by the American Chamber of Commerce in China.

Confrontation, in contrast, is hurting everyone. The trade war, for instance, has caused tremendous pain in the American economy without solving its underlying concerns that the tariff fight was meant to resolve.

"U.S. economic growth slowed, business investment froze, and companies didn't hire as many people. Across the nation, a lot of farmers went bankrupt, and the manufacturing and freight transportation sectors have hit lows not seen since the last recession," as Heather Long describes the pains of America's anti-China tariff fight in the Washington Post.

The U.S. has already suffered a lot from the trade war since it was launched in 2018. In this context, a pragmatic approach – expanding trade ties with China – is a much wiser option than small-yard-high-fence protectionist tactics for the president-elect if he is sincere in Making America Great Again.

Diplomatically, the Beijing-Washington partnership is essential in conflict mediation. Trump, on several occasions, urged for a quick end to the Gaza conflict. "You are going to have peace in the Middle East," Trump vowed to voters as he visited a Lebanese restaurant in Dearborn, Michigan last week.

Cooperating with China – a major peacemaker in the Middle East – would make it easier for Trump to reach his peace goal.

Under China's mediation, senior representatives from 14 Palestinian factions signed the Beijing Declaration on Ending Division and Strengthening Palestinian National Unity in their reconciliation talks in Beijing in July. Last year, China impressed the world with its role as a peace broker in the Iran-Saudi Arabia reconciliation and restoration of diplomatic relations. In this context, a China-U.S. partnership is vital to wind down conflicts in the Middle East.

In addition, cooperation between China and the U.S. – the world's top emitters of greenhouse gases – is vital in sealing major climate deals. In January this year, the two countries launched their Working Group on Enhancing Climate Action in the 2020s. Beijing-Washington in-depth communications on areas including energy transition, methane, circular economy, and low-carbon provinces, states and cities are significant in global response to climate change.

Trump, known as a pragmatist politician, should be clear that cooperation is in the best interests of both countries, and a zero-sum game will only lead to a multi-loss scenario.

Admittedly, the two countries differ in many respects, but this does not hinder them from seeking a modus vivendi for coexistence. Beijing has reiterated that it has no intention to challenge or replace Washington in the global arena. With both ups and downs in the past few years, Beijing-Washington ties are on the whole moving forward.

China is sincere in cooperating with the United States, and the world is waiting for the president-elect's words and acts.

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