China Embarks on a Charm Offensive Ahead of Potential Trump Win
Illustration: Bloomberg Daybreak/Getty Images
Good morning. China is playing nice with its allies ahead of the US election. Stocks rose for the first time this week, in part thanks to Tesla. And the business of baseball is thriving ahead of the World Series. Listen to the day’s top stories.
A potential Donald Trump US presidential victory and economic troubles at home have prompted China to embark on a charm offensive, particularly with American allies and partners. From proclaiming a desired “fresh start” with Japan to a detente with India, Chinese officials have sought to dial down diplomatic friction in an effort to buffer against potential trade threats from a re-elected Trump. Beijing has also signaled its intent to improve ties with the UK and Australia, a seeming departure from the kind of combative diplomacy it became famous for during Trump’s first term.