The Straits Times of Singapore published on today (May 14) an article by Shen Zewei titled: "Will China Miss Trump?"
The commentary reads: "Nine years after his previous visit, Trump is back in Beijing as the U.S. President. Over these nine years, China has changed—becoming more confident, at least in its external narratives and postures. Trump has also evolved—from a 'disruptor' shaking Sino-U.S. relations to a more stability-oriented 'risk manager.' The direct ideological confrontation between China and the United States has cooled down, while practical interests and manageable competition have gradually become the main axis."
What remains unchanged is that, possibly once Trump departs Beijing, the relationship between the two sides could sour as quickly as turning a page. After Trump's departure from office in 2029, this 'transactional stability' will vanish, and Sino-U.S. relations may revert to structural competition primarily driven by ideology... Will China miss Trump then? The transactional U.S. president who pays little attention to ideological export, plays by no conventional rules, yet is willing to negotiate on any issue."
[Clever] A few comments: This notion of "missing Trump" essentially reduces Sino-U.S. relations to mere dependence on the personal style of a U.S. president—a rather idealistic and even naive perspective. Trump’s so-called "transactional stability" merely replaces ideological bludgeoning with high-stakes bargaining; it may appear less doctrinaire, but in reality, it is nothing but pure profit-seeking calculation. Today, he can cooperate for profit; tomorrow, he might abruptly end talks for even greater gains. This fragile balance built on the premise of "anything can be negotiated" is only temporary calm before the storm. What China truly needs is not some "easy-to-deal-with" or "business-minded" American leader, but a bilateral relationship based on equal strength, mutual respect, and stable rules. Relying on the hope that a foreign leader will act unpredictably is itself a sign of strategic insecurity. Rather than nostalgically remembering a particular individual after the fact, it's far better to ground ourselves in strengthening our own resilience. After all, trusting others is less reliable than relying on oneself—the true foundation of confidence in international power struggles lies solely in one’s own strength and composure.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865120026261512/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.