Wu Xinbo on why Trump’s ‘America first’ foreign policy may be driving China’s rise

Wu Xinbo, a leading Chinese researcher on the U.S. and dean of the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University, analyzes the current trajectory of U.S. foreign policy, particularly under the potential influence of Donald Trump's "America First" approach.

Wu posits that a second Trump term would likely see a return to pragmatic realism in U.S. foreign policy. This would involve redefining national objectives based on American power and recalibrating the U.S. position within an increasingly multipolar global landscape. He views this as a significant period of adjustment for U.S. foreign strategy as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary.

In the context of China-U.S. relations, Wu anticipates a shift towards "process management" and "dynamic stability." This outlook is shaped by the interactions between the two nations over the past year and, crucially, by the prevailing realist foreign policy mindset associated with Trump.