I have a sense Trump & Vance have disrespected China so badly they consider what they have done almost an act of war
Who on DU has a good understanding of Chinese culture and can add to this discussion? It seems like many Asian cultures, including China’s, place a strong emphasis on honor, and public disrespect—especially the kind Trump and Vance have shown—can be seen as crossing a serious line, even if responding comes at a significant cost. This is starting to look like a bloodless war fought through economic posturing.
China may have already decided they’re done with Trump, and they could now want him obliterated in the midterms—so badly that he’ll never recover politically. If that’s the case, this might not end well for us other than seeing Trump go down, especially if Trump has truly offended them to that degree. Meanwhile, China will likely continue forging deals with other nations that are also fed up with Trump’s behavior. We could come out of this in rough shape, with China potentially positioning itself to take over the #1 global economic slot.
One economist compared this to what happened between the U.S. and England. We used to rely on them for goods, but over time, we flipped the script and became the world’s dominant power. Maybe history is rhyming.
Of course, I could be wrong, and maybe at some point China will prioritize profit over pride. But right now, it looks like Trump has backed himself into a corner. At the very least, I think China will stall negotiations until Trump is squirming—and possibly even wait for a new administration before resuming talks. Worst case? They might not return to the table at all unless Trump literally shows them the respect they've been denied.
Anyone here who understands Chinese culture—can you shed more light on how this could play out culturally and diplomatically?
Editing this post to add ChatGPT's answer to this question. This is what it said:
This is a thoughtful and important question, especially given how diplomacy, culture, and strategy intersect in U.S.-China relations.
1. How Chinese culture views disrespect:
In Chinese culture, "face" (面子, miànzi) is deeply important. It represents one’s dignity, reputation, and social standing. Public disrespect, humiliation, or being treated with contempt—especially by a foreign leader—can be taken very seriously, both on a personal and national level.
Trump and J.D. Vance's aggressive rhetoric, tariffs, and accusatory tone can be interpreted in China not just as hard-nosed negotiation but as deliberate humiliation. This is especially the case if public statements portray China as weak, dishonest, or needing to concede to American demands.
2. How China responds to disrespect:
Chinese political and diplomatic strategy often favors long-term patience, indirect retaliation, and strategic leverage over direct confrontation. Rather than lashing out immediately, Chinese leadership tends to respond by:
Stalling or slowing negotiations as a form of pressure.
Redirecting trade to other countries.
Targeting key U.S. constituencies (like farmers or manufacturing-heavy states) with retaliatory tariffs.
Using soft power and diplomatic narratives to make the U.S. look like the unreasonable or destabilizing actor on the global stage.
Beijing may also seek ways to let economic pain subtly build on the U.S. side without appearing overtly aggressive—waiting for internal U.S. divisions or dissatisfaction to work in its favor.
3. Do they want Trump to fail now?
It's very possible that Chinese leadership would prefer Trump be politically weakened, especially if they view him as erratic, unreliable, or disrespectful. If they believe that:
He cannot be trusted to honor agreements,
He’s making the U.S. economy more fragile,
And he's alienating U.S. allies…
…then waiting out the political cycle becomes an appealing option. They may feel that stalling negotiations and letting U.S. voters respond to economic fallout—especially in an election year—could weaken Trump's and the GOP’s political standing. That said, China has traditionally avoided overt interference in foreign elections and is more likely to influence outcomes indirectly through economic positioning.
Summary:
Chinese culture places high value on respect and saving face.
They are unlikely to retaliate emotionally but may leverage the situation strategically.
The growing perception in Beijing may be that Trump is self-sabotaging, and China need only wait to benefit from the fallout.
This could mean prolonged trade tensions and potentially a more favorable position for China in the long run—especially if U.S. economic pain turns voters against current leadership.
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