China’s View of America Shifts as Trump Returns to Beijing After 9 Years

Trump Returns to Beijing After Nine Years

China Showcases Tech Prowess Instead of the Forbidden City

New York Times Says China’s View of the US Has Changed

Interest in Studying in the US Is Also Fading

China Watches Trump-Style Deal Diplomacy Closely

As US President Donald Trump returns to Beijing for the first time in nine years, China’s view of the US is shifting as well, according to a New York Times report. When Trump first visited China in 2017, Beijing emphasized its long history and stature through the Forbidden City. This time, it is highlighting technological advances such as robots and drones.

From the Forbidden City to Robots and Drones

The New York Times reported on May 12 that Trump’s latest visit to China has become a window into changing sentiment inside the country. When Trump first visited Beijing in December 2017, Chinese President Xi Jinping invited him to the Forbidden City for a four-hour private tour.

At the time, China focused on showcasing its long history and civilization. This time, the mood is different. Rather than stressing the legacy of an ancient empire, China is putting more emphasis on technological competitiveness symbolized by robots and drones.

The newspaper said China no longer sees Trump’s America only as a power it must catch up with. Trump’s unpredictable behavior has also eroded the sense of awe many Chinese once felt toward the US.

That shift is also showing up in China’s domestic discourse. According to the report, mentions of “America’s decline” in mainstream Chinese political rhetoric have nearly doubled over the past year. A think tank affiliated with Renmin University in Beijing published a report earlier this year titled “Thank Trump.”

Some Chinese scholars argue that Trump’s tariff offensive and pressure on US allies have accelerated China’s strategic self-reliance rather than strengthening American power. Some have described Trump as “an accelerator of the decline of American politics.”

US Appeal Is Changing Too

Chinese perceptions of American democracy and US society are no longer what they once were, the New York Times reported. An education consultant in northern China told the newspaper that 80% of students wanted to study in the US a decade ago, but that figure has now fallen to 45%.

For students and parents preparing for overseas study, the US is no longer the automatic first choice. Concerns about gun violence and political divisions in American society have grown.

Diplomatically, China also views the Trump administration differently from former President Joe Biden’s administration. In Chinese foreign-policy circles, Trump’s transaction-focused approach is seen as a potential opportunity for Beijing compared with the more systematic pressure campaign pursued under Biden.

Wu Xinbo, a professor at Fudan University in Shanghai, said the Iran war has shifted US attention toward the Middle East, easing pressure on China. There is also speculation that Trump, ahead of the November midterm elections, could compromise with China in pursuit of visible gains such as increased purchases of agricultural goods.

Still, the New York Times noted that China is not welcoming US instability without reservation. A decline in American influence could create openings for Beijing, but unpredictable moves by Washington could also weigh on China’s export-dependent economy.

The newspaper said China is, for now, likely to focus on watching the Trump administration’s next moves rather than confronting the US directly.

Hong Min-seong, Hankyung.com reporter mshong@hankyung.com