Trump’s China thaw faces resistance from Congress and his own administration

On a state visit to China last month, US President Donald Trump shocked his political base with a series of rhetorical concessions.

In an interview, he warmly endorsed Chinese students studying in America, supported China-linked acquisition of US farmland, and dismissed concerns over state espionage as a routine, two-way reality.

It was not the first time Trump’s softer stance on China clashed with his own administration’s hardline approach.

Even before the summit, he repeatedly suggested allowing Chinese carmakers into the US market – a policy non-starter across the executive branch and both sides of the congressional aisle.

While Trump’s warmer rhetoric has raised hopes in Beijing, his government continues to pursue the restrictive policies that define Washington’s broader China strategy, raising questions about the durability of the truce between Washington and Beijing.

Some experts say that Trump’s musings highlighted a purely transactional approach towards China, resulting in a verbal positivity that rarely translates into major policy shifts.

However, others argue that his tone reflects a growing appetite for a less adversarial relationship with Beijing, which creates an opportunity to restabilise bilateral ties.

South China Morning Post