China’s Attitude? Watchful Neutrality

This week’s China Brief examines the view from Beijing as the United States votes. China is paying attention to the U.S. presidential election—but it is not heavily invested. So far, Beijing has maintained a carefully neutral position.

Although Chinese social media has a pro-Donald Trump bent, the Chinese political leadership has shown no particular favoritism toward him or Vice President Kamala Harris—or even signs of being more worried about one possibility than the other. (In general, Chinese media tends to downplay U.S. elections, portraying them as chaotic or farcical events.)

There is also little sign of serious Chinese attempts to interfere with the presidential election. Chinese hackers have tapped phones from both campaigns and targeted several dozen other individuals working on security issues, but that is routine information-gathering. Actual interference efforts have concentrated on state and local races, targeting candidates who are outspoken about China.

Respected Chinese experts on U.S. politics—at least those who retain a platform under Xi Jinping—share a (reasonable) conviction that hawkishness is one of the few remaining bipartisan issues in Washington and that little will change in U.S.-China relations whoever wins. 

Read it here: As the U.S. Votes, China Is Watching