All along China’s leaders publicly professed indifference to the U.S. presidential election, having concluded that no matter who won, the United States would remain irreconcilably opposed to the country’s rise.
The country’s top leader, Xi Jinping, has instead been pushing a strategy that would better insulate China from rising international risks, especially the antagonism of President Donald Trump.
China now faces a new administration that has vowed to be equally tough. While many will welcome the expected change in tone from the strident, at times racist statements by Trump and other officials, few expect President-elect Joe Biden to quickly reverse the confrontational policies his predecessor has put in place.