Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Gaza Media Office: Bloody spectacle shows that these zones have become collective death traps rather than aid distribution zones.
Gaza Media Office: Dozens of citizens are still surrounded under constant fire in the vicinity of the "aid station."
Gaza Media Office: As soon as citizens arrived, occupation and Americans opened direct fire on them.
Gaza Media Office: Occupation, in complicity with the US company, called on citizens to move toward Wadi Gaza Bridge, claiming that aid would be distributed.
Gaza Government Media Office: Occupation set a bloody trap at bridge of Wadi Gaza, luring thousands of starved civilians, and opened fire on them.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone drops sonic grenade in town of Ramiyah.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone strike targets vehicle in town of Beit Lif.
The Government Media Office in Gaza: The occupation’s latest crime is further evidence of its ongoing implementation of genocide through starvation.
Gaza Government Media Office: This is a methodical use of aid as a tool of war to blackmail hungry civilians.
Gaza Government media office: Massacre committed by occupation today is a blatant war crime under international law.

China VP to attend Trump's inauguration in effort to improve ties: WSJ

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News Websites
  • 17 Jan 2025 17:47
4 Min Read

China is taking a more cordial approach with the incoming Trump administration, a report by the Wall Street Journal states.

Listen
  • x
  • Chinese Vice President Han Zheng attend a meeting with Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (AP)
    Chinese Vice President Han Zheng attend a meeting with Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025 (AP)

For the first time, China is sending a top-ranking Chinese Communist Party official to Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday, reflecting Beijing's dual approach of engaging with the incoming US president while also signaling that it will respond swiftly and forcefully if relations deteriorate, a Wall Street Journal report stated. 

Trump had invited Chinese leader Xi Jinping to his inauguration, but China’s Foreign Ministry announced that Vice President Han Zheng will attend as Xi’s special representative.

The ministry emphasized China’s willingness to cooperate with the incoming US administration to improve relations, saying "We stand ready to work with the new US government to enhance dialogue and communication … and find the right way for the two countries to get along with each other."

Although considered a "demotion" relative to President Xi, Wu Xinbo, an international relations scholar at Fudan University in Shanghai, said that sending the Chinese Vice President was Beijing's way to showcase its respect for Trump's invitation. It is worth noting that Japan and India, considered the US' key security partners in the east, are sending their foreign ministers. 

The incoming Trump administration has repeatedly expressed a more hard-line approach toward China. Earlier this week, secretary of state nominee Marco Rubio claimed China was “the most potent and dangerous near-peer adversary this nation has ever confronted," emphasizing the government's will to counter Beijing once it assumes power. 

However, China has also reciprocated certain economic measures taken by the US, namely when it comes to trade. Earlier in January, China announced punitive trade measures targeting several US companies, including Raytheon, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin, signaling a potential escalation in tensions between the two global powers, The New York Times reported.

The Ministry of Commerce in China confirmed that 28 companies have been added to its export control list, citing the need to “safeguard national security and interests.” This move includes banning the export of dual-use items—those with both civilian and military applications—to the affected companies.

Related News

US expands federal contract cuts to target tech vendors: WSJ

Morgan Ortagus to exit US role in Lebanon amid policy shift

Additionally, 10 firms have been placed on an “unreliable entities list” for their involvement in arms sales to Taiwan. These firms are now barred from conducting business in China, with their executives prohibited from entering or residing in the country.

Avoiding the 'Biden years'

Despite this, Beijing indicated a readiness to push for a swift agreement in order to prevent a worsening conflict over trade, according to The Wall Street Journal. China’s Foreign Ministry reacted favorably when Trump mentioned in a recent interview that his team had been in talks with representatives of Xi, whom he referred to as a "powerful" leader he could collaborate with.

According to the report, Beijing is partly motivated to ease trade tensions with the US due to concerns that escalating conflicts could undermine China’s fragile economic recovery. After implementing a major stimulus package to combat deflation, a prolonged property downturn, and weak consumption, China saw a 5% GDP growth in 2024, meeting its target thanks to strong exports and the stimulus.

Han, a member of China’s influential Politburo, holds the vice presidency with responsibilities in diplomacy and environmental policy. He often represents Xi at international events like UN climate negotiations.

Since beginning his third term in late 2022, Xi has increasingly delegated foreign travel to senior officials like Han and Premier Li Qiang. This shift has led to fewer high-level exchanges with the US, especially amid rising tensions over US export restrictions on Chinese tech and the Taiwan issue.

This time around, China appears to be shaking things up to avoid replicating the Biden years during trump's tenure, Shen Dingli, a retired international relations scholar in Shanghai, stated. 

Over the past four years, the relationship "began low and ended high," with heated diplomatic confrontations over Taiwan and the Chinese balloon eventually leading to some cooperation on matters like reducing fentanyl production and addressing climate change.

"There is a good chance that there will not be such a turbulent start this time," Shen noted.

  • United States
  • Biden administration
  • Trump administration
  • China
  • Xi Jinping
  • Donald Trump

Most Read

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive to a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington (AP)

Rift widens: Trump, Netanyahu clash in heated phone call over Iran

  • Politics
  • 26 May 2025
US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump tensions

US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump pressures

  • US & Canada
  • 25 May 2025
An Israeli army vehicle moves in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 29, 2025 (AP)

Hamas rejects Witkoff ceasefire plan, says alters terms

  • Politics
  • 29 May 2025
Spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announces a new operation against Ben Gurion Airport on May 29, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen announces successful hypersonic missile strike on Ben Gurion

  • Politics
  • 30 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
MIT bans class president who gave pro-Palestine speech
US & Canada

MIT bans class president over pro-Palestine speech

Arab ministers condemn Israel 'ban' on planned West Bank visit
Politics

Arab ministers condemn Israeli ban on planned West Bank visit

Major General Hu Gangfeng, Vice President, National Defense University, People's Liberation Army, China, leaves after a panel discussion during the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Politics

China blasts Hegseth, calls US top 'troublemaker' in Asia-Pacific

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: Reports
Technology

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: NBC News

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS