China extends congratulations to Trump, stating that it respects the choice made by the American people.

 

BEIJING, Nov 7- China's President Xi Jinping congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the U.S. presidential election and called for both countries to discover the "right way to coexist," as impending U.S. tariffs risk reigniting a trade war reminiscent of previous years. Xi stated on Thursday that stable, sound, and sustainable China-U.S. relations benefit both nations, emphasizing that the international community expects the two powers to "respect each other and coexist peacefully."

Xi also emphasized the need for enhanced dialogue to effectively manage differences. Relations between the two nations reached a new low due to conflicts over various issues, including trade, security, Taiwan, and the South China Sea. However, signs of improvement began in November 2023 after Xi and President Joe Biden held a four-hour meeting in California. Trump's victory may reignite concerns from his first term, during which he initiated a contentious trade war with the world's second-largest economy in 2018, eventually reaching a truce just before the COVID-19 pandemic began in January 2020.

The Republican, who has pledged to implement strong tariffs, secured the White House with a decisive victory over Democrat Kamala Harris in Tuesday's election and will assume office in January. Echoing Xi's call for stability, China's commerce ministry expressed its willingness to collaboratively develop healthy economic and trade relations with the United States. In response to questions about the possibility of increased U.S. tariffs during a regular press briefing, a ministry spokesperson stated that China is open to expanding cooperation to benefit both nations, temporarily setting aside any considerations of retaliation.

Xi's congratulatory message to Trump was more restrained compared to his response when Trump first won the election in November 2016. Back then, Xi urged for "greater progress in China-U.S. relations from a new starting point," emphasizing that both economies should take on responsibilities in promoting world peace, stability, and global development. Nevertheless, in an editorial on Wednesday, the state-run China Daily suggested that Trump's second presidency could represent a "new beginning in China-U.S. relations, provided the opportunity is not squandered."

U.S. policies and misconceptions about China have created challenges for their relationship, it noted. "A pragmatic approach to bilateral relations is crucial for addressing the complexities of global challenges," it added. The Biden administration has maintained Trump's trade policies, continuing to target China's state-driven industrial practices. In September, it implemented significant tariff increases on Chinese imports, including 100% duties on electric vehicles, 50% on solar cells, and 25% on steel, aluminum, EV batteries, and key minerals, in an effort to protect strategic American industries. However, Trump's threat of imposing 60% tariffs on U.S. imports of Chinese goods presents significant growth risks for China. These tariffs would be substantially higher than the 7.5% to 25% tariffs imposed during his first term and would come at a particularly vulnerable time for the Chinese economy, which is grappling with a severe property downturn, local government debt, and weak domestic demand.