Trump’s return: China calls for peaceful coexistence

We do not yet know the official election results in the United States. Still, Donald Trump has already secured enough electoral votes to move back into the White House in January 2025 after a four-year break. The 78-year-old politician has already received congratulations from the most important world leaders.

On Wednesday, representatives of China also reacted to Trump's electoral success. Although Beijing presented a neutral stance on the election, calling it an "internal matter of the United States," a Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson expressed hope for peaceful cooperation with the USA.

"Our policy towards the U.S. is consistent. We will continue to view and handle China-U.S. relations in accordance with the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation," said ministry spokesperson Mao Ning on Wednesday morning Eastern Time.

Chinese state media portrayed the presidential election in the United States as reflecting deep social divisions in American society. Local journalists argued that the sharp campaign rhetoric was evidence of the USA's "political dysfunction."

Relations between the United States and China have been tense for several years, and a change in leadership at the White House is unlikely to change the situation, especially since Trump promises an even tougher policy towards Beijing. During his first term, the politician initiated a trade war with China, raising tariffs on goods from the Middle Kingdom valued at approximately CAD 404 billion.

After taking office in 2021, Joe Biden maintained the tariffs and even increased them in some important areas—higher rates covered, among other things, steel, aluminum, electric cars, and photovoltaics.