Chinese leader’s strategy under Trump likened to Don Corleone’s approach

China has begun executing retaliatory actions against the US.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping's anticipated strategy under President Donald Trump has already been compared to the style of Don Corleone, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

It is known that Trump has discussed imposing a 60 per cent tariff on imports from China, a move that could potentially spark a global trade war. China has devised three strategies in response to the new US administration: retaliation, adaptation, and diversification, advisor at The Asia Group, former member of the US National Security Council, Professor of Georgetown University Evan S. Medeiros said.

The expert suggests that China has already started executing its plan. By the end of 2024, China halted the supply of minerals for chip production to the US, restricted exports of American drones, and initiated an antitrust investigation against Nvidia chipmaker.  

Since the fall of 2023, China has launched fiscal and monetary stimulus programmes to support its citizens, the expert said. Medeiros said that the president of China could unilaterally reduce import tariffs on goods from countries outside the US partners’ circle. 

Medeiros said in an interview with the Financial Times that Beijing believes that US influence in the Global South and Asia is declining, and support for this view in China is growing. Xi Jinping has already signaled that he will treat his relations with Trump purely as business dealings, albeit in the style of Don Corleone. He has refused to personally greet Trump (or attend the inauguration) and will strike back swiftly and harshly to gain leverage.

By Naila Huseynova