Trump gov't has yet to map out a clear direction for ties
Uncertainties loom in Sino-U.S. relations as analysts suspect the Trump administration has yet to map out a clear China policy.
U.S. President Donald Trump has not spoken with Chinese President Xi Jinping since taking office, despite having talked to at least 18 foreign heads of state, either by phone or in person.
Relations between China and the U.S. soured after Trump took a phone call from Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen in December and threatened to use the one-China policy as leverage in trade talks.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned on Tuesday that there would be no winner in conflict between China and the U.S..
But China is committed to peace, Wang said, after meeting Australia's Foreign Minister Julia Bishop.
"Although China is seen as a potential challenge to the U.S., damaged Sino-U.S. ties is not in line with American interests. So he's very cautious about how to deal with China," Jin Canrong, associate dean of the Department of International Studies at the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times.
"The two sides have communicated, including talks at the non-government level by business people like Jack Ma and Anbang Insurance Group CEO Wu Xiaohui. These businessmen also met with members of Trump's team," said Jin.
Ma, the founder and chairman of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, met Trump in January and offered to support 1 million small businesses in the U.S.. Wu was also reported in January to have met Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law, in Manhattan to discuss a joint venture.
Sorting out policies
Meanwhile, the Trump administration is paying special attention to Northeast Asia, experts said, with his defense secretary, Jim Mattis, visiting South Korea and Japan.
"Trump's team is trying to sort out its policy toward North Korea. Since China must be included in negotiations on the North Korea nuclear issue, there's space for coordination between China and the U.S.," said Wu Xinbo, director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University.
Mattis reaffirmed U.S. commitment to the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system in South Korea when he visited the country, and stressed it would only target North Korea.
In Tokyo, Mattis proposed open lines of communication in resolving disputes in the South China Sea and played down any need for U.S. military action.
"In the South China Sea, Trump is creating a wider range of choices for its future strategy with Mattis' emphasis on diplomacy instead of military action," said Zhang Mingliang, a professor at the Southeast Asian Institute of Ji'nan University.
Analysts also warned about a trade war between the two sides. "There's a possibility of a partial trade war, as Trump might impose sanctions on Chinese goods in steel, oil and automobiles," said Jin, adding this is not expected to happen soon.
"Trump is testing China's response by imposing anti-dumping measures on specific goods. At a certain time, when the two sides need to sit down and talk, Trump will push China to accept his requests, including expanding imports and increasing market access," said Wu.
Reaction to Trump's policies
There's a growing interest among the Chinese in articles analyzing Trump's policies, which have sparked lively discussions online.
Trump has raced out of the gate in his first 20 days as president, and his unconventional and aggressive approach has created unease in the international community.
His travel ban against seven Muslim majority countries, which has sparked legal battles and remains suspended, is considered offensive by the Muslim world. He praised Brexit and his trade adviser accused Germany of being a euro manipulator, which pushed U.S.-EU ties to a new low. He vowed to build a border wall between Mexico and the U.S. to head off Mexican immigrants, and insists Mexico should pay for it, which has caused considerable discontent among Latin Americans.
Trump's controversial policies led some Chinese to see the seeming chaos of Trump's first 20 days in office as a farce, and view it as the aftermath of over-democracy, and say China's one-party system is the best way to maintain social stability. Some predict Trump will be a president with the shortest tenure, while others consider him as a great tactical leader.
With Chinese immigrants in the U.S. concerned that Trump's anti-immigration policy might turn on them, some local people are applauding Trump for sticking to the promises he made during the presidential campaign.
"I approve of Trump. Maybe he'll take America into a new direction. Hopefully he can discern the international situation - China is a partner and not an enemy of the U.S.," says one comment on Trump's crackdown on immigrants.
