Beijing Think Tank Says Trump’s 2nd-Term Policies Strengthened China, Weakened the US
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 12
Beijing Think Tank Says Trump’s 2nd-Term Policies Strengthened China, Weakened the US
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 12
A January report from a nationalist Beijing think tank tied to Renmin University argued that Donald Trump’s first year back in office made China stronger while pushing the United States deeper into decline.
The report, titled “Thank Trump,” said tariffs, attacks on allies, anti-immigration moves and assaults on the U.S. political establishment acted as a “reverse booster” for China’s unity and strategic self-reliance.
Chinese state-linked commentators and nationalists increasingly frame Trump’s volatile second term as proof of Xi Jinping’s view that the East is rising while the West is declining.
That marks a sharp shift from decades when many Chinese still saw the United States as richer, more technologically advanced and institutionally confident despite political disagreements.
Is the upcoming Trump-Xi summit a path to stability or a prelude to a renewed trade war?
As China's tech sector surges, can the U.S. reverse its scientific 'brain drain' to maintain its innovative edge?
With its own economy struggling, can China truly capitalize on the perceived decline of the West?
How Trump’s Second Term Accelerated China’s Rise and Exposed U.S. Decline: A Beijing Perspective on Global Power Shifts, 2025–2026
Overview
This report highlights how Beijing scholars, after Donald Trump’s first year back in office, issued a sarcastic 'Thank Trump' message, arguing that his leadership validated Xi Jinping’s belief in the 'rise of the East and decline of the West.' The scholars noted that Trump’s policies weakened America’s traditional alliances, which in turn reduced resistance to China’s growing influence. As a result, China now sees itself as a confident superpower, no longer trying to catch up to the West but instead poised to surpass it. This shift reflects a broader narrative of U.S. decline and China’s strategic gains.