Beijing, which has traditionally relied on its economic power, growing importance and “old friends” who lean on China to influence Washington, is struggling to figure out how to engage with the unpredictable incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, according to analysts and former US officials.
And China is not alone. Many countries have turned to flattery, golf and appeals to Trump’s self-interest and “America First” agenda.
But Beijing is in a unique bind as it struggles with a faltering economy, deeply unfavorable demographics, deep-seated US suspicions and a “de-risking” campaign by Washington aimed at depriving it of the technological advances that President Xi Jinping sees as crucial to China’s future.
“Chinese officials are having a hard time dealing with the Trump team,” said Zack Cooper, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. “Beijing certainly has people it can go to in the US business community, but it’s unclear how much influence those people will have in changing government policy.”
Historically, China’s playbook for the White House has relied on business groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, major companies operating in China, wealthy investors or former political heavyweights like the late Henry Kissinger.
But as Trump has torn up the playbook and ignored precedent, even as China’s stock has fallen in Washington, many of those relationships have become less valuable, less tangible, or, like the influential former secretary of state, no longer alive.
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