What China wants from the next US president

During a Taiwan National Day speech on October 10, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said that Taipei was determined to defend Taiwan’s sovereignty against “annexation and encroachment”, and emphasized that “China has no right to represent Taiwan.”

China’s response was swift. Less than a week after Lai’s provocative speech, a record 153 Chinese warplanes swarmed and surrounded Taiwan during a Chinese military exercise over 24 hours. Beijing’s intention was simple: issue Taipei a “stern warning” for what China considers a “separatist act.”

Beijing sees the island as a “sacred and inseparable part of China’s territory” that must return to the fold. The Taiwanese president sees things differently. Currently, the self-governing island has a different political system and few Taiwanese are in favor of reunification with China.

Though Washington doesn’t have diplomatic relations with Taipei officially, it does have regular communication through back channels and a strong economic relationship.

The island is a key US trading partner and is a major supplier of semiconductors which are critical to the production of computers and other technologies. It also sells arms to Taiwan, although this has reduced significantly under Joe Biden.

China has not ruled out taking Taiwan by force, and if it does, the US might come to the self-ruling island’s defense as indicated by Washington in the past.

But Xi will be hoping the outcome of the 2024 US presidential election might bring a leader that would have a different attitude toward Taiwan as well as helping China resolve its economic storm, which has resulted in a rising number of protests.

So, between an outspoken Donald Trump and a seemingly even-tempered Kamala Harris, does Beijing