BEIJING (CHINA) – Amid deteriorating Sino-US relations, China is bracing for more turbulence in the run-up to the US presidential polls in November.
Beijing was furious over Washington’s demand that China close its Houston consulate in 72 hours and in retaliation, it order the closure of the US consulate in Chengdu.
Though China desisted from publicly blaming US President Donald Trump, who often refers to his personal friendship with his Chinese counterpart President Xi Jinping, state media editorials have portrayed the latest move as an election gimmick.
According to the Chinese administration and military top brass, four more years of Trump is an opportunity to hasten China’s ascent.
Exasperation over Trump’s unpredictability and his affinity for tariffs and rising hostility of the US have made China wary of confrontation.
Beijing has also been miffed by the frequent US criticism of “Communist” China and the ruling Communist Party with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo using the word 27 times in a speech on Thursday. He urged allies to adopt a more assertive approach to China, terming it the “mission of our time”.
“There are no illusions about restoring relations back to the good old days, but a new president at least provides a chance to reset relations,” said one Chinese official, declining to be identified given the sensitivity of the matter. “After all, you can’t get a worse relationship than the current one,” he said.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field