the essential
What do Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump propose on American relations with China and Taiwan?
Donald Trump: economic and strategic confrontation
Facing Beijing, Trump promises an even tougher line than during his first term. He plans punitive tariffs of 60% on Chinese imports and threatens to completely decouple the American and Chinese economies.
“China is stealing from us,” he insists in his meetings. On Taiwan, Trump cultivates strategic ambiguity, alternating veiled threats towards Beijing and provocative declarations on the island's independence.
He regularly accuses China of being responsible for the Covid-19 pandemic – “the Chinese virus”. His program also plans to ban Chinese companies from acquiring American agricultural land and strengthen restrictions on technological investments.
He also recalls that during his first mandate, he took measures to limit Chinese technological influence, by targeting Huawei or TikTok. Accusing the Biden administration of being too conciliatory towards Beijing, he promises a more aggressive approach to counter Chinese influence on the world stage.
Kamala Harris: the great unknown
Still a novice on the international scene, the Democrat has remained relatively discreet on the subject, nevertheless seeming less hostile to Beijing than Joe Biden. A major trade war therefore appears obsolete, even if she promised to continue to protect her country against the “unfair trade practices” of her Chinese rival. It should also retain the taxes on imported products put in place by Donald Trump and reinforced by his successor.
Recently questioned on the subject of Taiwan, she assured that her administration would continue the policy of “one China” while reaffirming American support for the self-defense of the territory. However, she refused to take a position on the possibility of sending American troops in the event of an invasion of the island by Beijing.
