The most important element for China is to maintain international stability, while ensuring its national interests and national sovereignty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
China, despite its economic challenges in recent years, continues to seek to resolve tensions with the US without accepting humiliating submission to Washington’s terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The need for a “grand compromise” comes at a time when the Chinese economy is in the process of adjusting after the pandemic, with investment limited and domestic issues, such as the real estate crisis, making international cooperation and avoiding tensions vital to economic recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Xi Jinping will seek to bolster China\u2019s image as a responsible player on the international stage, presenting the trade deals it will offer the Americans as a contribution to global security and stability, especially with fentanyl control and trade reforms.
However, this stance is coupled with a strategy of strictly maintaining the country\u2019s national sovereignty and economic independence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
China, in part because of its political culture and economic model, sees international relations as a field for advancing its interests and maintaining control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The fentanyl debate will therefore be the first example of the Chinese approach: ready to give something, but not without gaining something in return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The US and the desire for big deals<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, Donald Trump is famous for his ability to focus on \u201cbig deals\u201d, which are of great communication interest and could make him a hero for American voters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, from the Chinese perspective, the obsession with \u201cbig deals\u201d can prove dangerous, as it can overlook the deep strategic differences that exist between the two countries, especially in areas such as technology, strategic influence and geopolitical balances. China has repeatedly stressed the need for a stronger and more permanent relationship with the US, but without giving up its sovereign rights and strategic priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From this perspective, the plan for a \u201cbig deal\u201d that includes many different fronts can prove dangerous, as if there is a failure on any of the points of agreement, the entire agreement may collapse. China seems to prefer more stable and limited agreements that do not expose the country to large-scale risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the Russians, Trump wants to reindustrialize the US and for this he must introduce a protectionist policy towards China, if Beijing does not make certain concessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over the past thirty years, the United States has developed very much economically. Since the late 1970s, American capital has moved on a global scale, creating businesses abroad, mainly in China. As a result, the country has gradually begun to retreat and lose technological dominance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n American business circles are still satisfied with this, but it does not suit American industrialists who have bet on Trump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After this, Trump will once again announce that he has recorded a great success. However, all of these are temporary measures and on the main issues it is unlikely that an agreement will be reached.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Trade and the \u201cBig Deal\u201d Agreement – What is the Cost for China?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n On the trade front, China is called upon to respond to Washington\u2019s constant demands for a reduction in its trade deficit and greater access to US markets. However, the issues are not as simple as they seem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n China does not want to be completely dependent on the US market for its growth, as the strengthening of its domestic market and the \u201cMade in China 2025\u201d strategy aim to reduce dependence on foreign markets and promote domestic innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Washington, on the other hand, wants direct concessions from Beijing, both in terms of market access and technology transfer. China, in turn, is very wary of further opening its markets or allowing US technology into sensitive sectors, as this could undermine its strategic aspirations in the field of technology and strategic independence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What makes trade a fragile issue is the uncertainty of the future. Concessions made in the past, such as in the agreed \u201cPhase One Agreement\u201d of 2020, have not borne fruit, as China has failed to keep its promises to buy large quantities of US products. Any new agreement, therefore, should be accompanied by strict control mechanisms and guarantees for the implementation of the commitments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Chinese Doctrine: Prudent Management of Rivalry<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In terms of diplomacy, China adheres to the philosophy of strategic management, avoiding major conflicts and excessive provocations. China\u2019s track record on the international stage demonstrates that the country prefers to prudently manage relations with major powers through gradual and reciprocal moves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overly ambitious \u201cgrand deals\u201d that include interconnected issues (such as fentanyl, trade, and technology) often fail to produce meaningful results, because failure on one issue may affect the resolution of all other issues. The lessons of history show that \u201cgradual integration\u201d agreements are more achievable goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union managed to negotiate gradual nuclear arms reduction agreements, while the one on the Iranian nuclear program was limited to enrichment aspects, without directly affecting broader regional challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n China Will Agree on Specific Issues<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Understanding the pressure to agree, China may agree to some limited measures, such as controlling fentanyl and enhancing cooperation in clean energy and medical technology. Such limited agreements may be more sustainable and less risky, as they focus on specific, measurable outcomes that are likely to bring benefits to both sides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the technological field, the issue of \u201cpolitical-military fusion\u201d remains the most complex, and China may wish to maintain its autonomy in the technological field, as it sees any subjection to restrictions by Washington as a threat to its national security and strategic competitive advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Long-term strategy, not theater<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For China, the main issue is not the success of a spectacular agreement, but the maintenance of a stable framework of cooperation with the United States that safeguards its national interests and contributes to global stability. The spectacular theater of a major agreement may attract attention, but the real challenge is long-term strategic management and avoiding an escalating confrontation that could result in a geopolitical and economic crisis.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The meeting expected today (30\/10\/2025) between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the APEC Leaders\u2019 Meeting…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[821,390,819],"tags":[7508,2950,161,655,1008,4377,5290,1094,2530,70,2187],"class_list":["post-26634","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-asia","category-politics","category-usa","tag-apec","tag-asia","tag-china","tag-donald-trump","tag-exports","tag-fentanyl","tag-housing-crisis","tag-south-korea","tag-trade","tag-usa","tag-xi-jinping"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.liberalglobe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26634","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.liberalglobe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.liberalglobe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.liberalglobe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.liberalglobe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=26634"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.liberalglobe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26634\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26637,"href":"https:\/\/www.liberalglobe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26634\/revisions\/26637"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.liberalglobe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=26634"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.liberalglobe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=26634"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.liberalglobe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=26634"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.liberalglobe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-170-1024x576.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n