China’s Sending of the Vice President to Trump’s Inauguration: What Does It Signify?

【This article is AI-translated and written by Jin Canrong, Professor at the Renmin University of China School of International Relations, and an expert on American issues.】
The Trump administration brought many surprises, one of which was inviting foreign heads of state to the inauguration for the first time in 150 years. Considering all factors, China sent Vice President Han Zheng to attend Trump’s inauguration.
This demonstrates that China attaches great importance to Sino-U.S. relations. In recent years, Sino-U.S. relations have been turbulent mainly due to the mindset of the U.S., who are reluctant to accept China’s rise and often try to cause problems. China’s attitude towards the U.S. has been stable; we aim for mutual respect, win-win cooperation, and collective progress for the stability of Sino-U.S. relations.
President-elect Donald Trump speaks at a rally ahead of the 60th Presidential Inauguration, Jan. 19, 2025, in Washington.
Sending Vice President Han Zheng to the U.S. sends a core signal: Sino-U.S. relations are crucial in China’s diplomacy, which China takes very seriously. In recent years, many have quoted President Xi Jinping: “There are a thousand reasons for China-U.S. relations to improve and not a single reason to deteriorate.” On January 20, local time, Trump began his 47th presidency. China also hopes to test Sino-U.S. relations, set a positive start, and ensure stability over the next four years.
On the evening of January 17, President Xi Jinping was also invited to hold a phone call with Trump, which set the tone for future Sino-U.S. relations.
It can be said that regardless of the U.S. motives for inviting Chinese leaders to their inauguration, it is a highly affirmative move. China seized this opportunity to express our attitude; Trump’s inauguration marks a good starting point for Sino-U.S. relations for the next four years, and we hope the relationship will progress smoothly.
However, we must be clear that Sino-U.S. relations face structural contradictions that still restrict bilateral relations. China’s rise, differing from the historical rise of countries like the Netherlands, the UK, Germany, and Japan, causes a significant impact on the global power balance due to its large-scale effects.
Experts in international relations often use the term “balance of power.” China’s rise undoubtedly affects the current balance of power, and the U.S. has not yet prepared to accept this historical trend. If the U.S. continues to reject this balance change, they will keep trying to stop China’s rise, with some believing that enough pressure from the U.S. can halt China’s rise.
However, both recognitions are wrong. China’s rise is not achieved by plundering other countries like Western powers or Japan, but by diligence and the hard work of the Chinese people to enlarge the “cake.” If the U.S. has the correct attitude, they should view China’s rise as an opportunity.
Currently, while the U.S. still holds many advantages, they face weaknesses, most notably industrial hollowing. The U.S. has excellent technologies, attracting talents and the world’s largest venture capital groups, but these talents and capital only create new technologies that remain in Silicon Valley’s labs without application scenes, unable to be reproduced or marketed, turning new technologies into waste paper. This leads to stock speculation limited to laboratory products, contributing little to actual production or improving people’s welfare.
Then, where are suitable application scenarios for these new technologies? They are in China. These technologies find application scenarios only in Chinese cities like Shenzhen, Dongguan, Foshan, Zhongshan in the Pearl River Delta, Shanghai, Suzhou, Wuxi, Hangzhou, Nantong in the Yangtze River Delta, including Wenzhou, Taizhou, and inland Chengdu, Wuhan, Zhengzhou, Chongqing, etc. If the U.S. sees China’s rise as an opportunity and opens up for Sino-U.S. cooperation, we can make this “cake” even bigger.
The problem now is that the U.S. is not ready to accept China’s rise, viewing China’s development as a challenge rather than an opportunity, creating conflicts.
What should we do? I’ve mentioned in many places that China’s real challenge lies within, especially in economics and demand. As long as China manages its economy, maintains stable and healthy development, especially ensuring the gradual improvement of people’s living standards, it can break U.S. misconceptions and make them realize that suppressing China’s rise is impossible. Facing the current situation, China should actively communicate, such as sending Vice President Han Zheng to the U.S. for communication, while focusing on development to benefit itself and the world.
At present, Sino-U.S. relations are at a critical juncture. I believe China’s development is unstoppable, but we must admit that China has faced some economic difficulties in the past two to three years. In 2021, China’s GDP in USD terms reached 77% of the U.S., dropping to 61% in 2024. This led many, including Biden, to become confident, with Biden even mentioning in his farewell speech that China will never surpass the U.S.
This blind confidence is wrong. On the one hand, he sees China as a major threat; on the other, he blindly believes that China can be contained. The combination of these perceptions will bring great trouble to Sino-U.S. relations.
The easing of Sino-U.S. relations is based on the U.S. gaining a deeper understanding of China and realizing that China’s development is unstoppable. America should recognize that suppressing China’s development is impossible and instead see it as an opportunity they can seize. Vice President Han Zheng’s visit to the U.S. aims to create opportunities and conditions to break this misconception in the U.S.
Editor: Zhongxiaowen