View from Beijing: “China handles US ties based on mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, win-win cooperation, FM says as Trump declares victory”

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gestures to audience with his family and running mate at his election night party on November 6, 2024.
Photo: The Global Times

China's policy toward the US is consistent, and it will continue to handle China-US relations based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in response to the potential impact of the US presidential election result on bilateral relations, ‘The Global Times’ stresses.

In response to another question related to the election result and potential additional US tariffs on Chinese goods, Mao said the US presidential election is an internal affair of the US. We respect the choice of the American people. As for the tariffs, we do not answer hypothetical question. 

Republican candidate Donald Trump has declared victory early Wednesday in the 2024 US presidential election, according to Xinhua.

Trump told the audience at his election night party early on Wednesday that it was "time to unite" as a country, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

"It's time to put the divisions of the past four years behind us," Trump said. "It's time to unite."

As of press time, Donald Trump has 267 of the 270 electoral votes needed to win the White House and is leading in key races left to be called, including Michigan and Wisconsin, according to the AP.

First of all, whoever enters the White House in next four years needs to bear in mind that China and the US are the major powers and top two economies in the world, so they have significant roles to play and responsibilities to shoulder, Jin Canrong, associate dean of the School of International Studies at the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times on Wednesday. 

If the new president can learn lessons from his previous term to better manage the China-US relations and maintain cooperation and seek more common ground to avoid a zero-sum game and more confrontation, that would not only be good news to the peoples of China and the US, but also the rest of the world, Jin noted.

When asked if Trump wins, will the Chinese side send him a congratulatory message, Mao said that after the US election results are officially announced, we will handle related matters according to usual practice.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning’s Regular Press Conference on November 6, 2024

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning on USA presidential elections.

Question from ‘Financial Times’: President Donald Trump is gaining ground in the US election. He said he would sharply increase tariffs on China. How is China preparing for this possibility of higher tariffs? Could it be more fiscal stimulus if this happens?

Mao Ning: The presidential election of the United States is its internal affair. We respect the choice of the American people. As for what you asked about, we do not answer hypothetical questions.

NHK: How will the result of the US presidential election affect China’s foreign policy or China-US relations?

Mao Ning: China’s policy on the US is consistent. We will continue to view and handle our bilateral relations under the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation.

ABC Spanish Daily Newspaper: At this point, President Trump’s victory seems almost certain. If that ends up being the case, will the Chinese side congratulate him?

Mao Ning: We will handle relevant matter following customary practice.

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