China's Friendship Offer Ahead of Trump's Inauguration

This week, President Xi Jinping of China indicated that Beijing is ready to work with the incoming U. S. President, Donald Trump, to resolve trade disputes. In a letter to a U. S. -China business council, Xi underlined the importance of choosing dialogue over conflicts and cooperation over competition. This message mirrors what Xi said earlier in the week at a meeting with international economic leaders. He warned that no one wins in trade wars.

These public messages suggest that China is anxious about Trump's "America First" policy, which threatens their economy. Trump has promised more tariffs on Chinese goods, while China recently banned exports of certain materials in response to U. S. chip export restrictions. Despite tensions, experts expect both sides to negotiate rather than impose heavy tariffs. Xi has confidence in China's economic growth and wants to show the world they're open for business. There's speculation that Xi may attend Trump's inauguration to avoid appearing unfriendly. If relations worsen, China could later point to these early overtures to blame Washington for lack of cooperation.

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