Harris Won’t Dump Taiwan. That’s Why China Likes Trump
Beijing prefers the unpredictable former president to Kamala Harris, who is likely to continue the stability of the Biden administration.
An unknown quantity.
Photographer: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
The Kamala Harris craze is everywhere right now, fueling a flurry of memes across social media that have driven millions of views. But one place the US vice president isn’t so popular? China. Beijing is wary of a repeat of the current administration’s approach, particularly when it comes to President Joe Biden’s promise to protect Taiwan. The world’s second-largest economy would much rather Donald Trump is the next American leader, despite his unpredictability, because he is likely to preside over a US that is less engaged with the world.
There has been no official comment from Beijing on Harris’s late entry into the contest for the top political job in the US, but both social and state media alike have run commentary about how Trump might now have a better chance at victory. It is understandable that China prefers him. The Communist Party’s biggest red line is Taiwanese independence, and President Xi Jinping has been unequivocal that eventually the self-ruled island will be united with the mainland. Nevertheless, Biden has consistently made it clear that he is willing to take the step of providing Taipei with backup if needed.