If you know a thing or two about Trump and China, you'd know that Trump isn't exactly fond of it, and the nation is commonly regarded as a threat to America and the rest of the world.
It's unfortunate that the country is depicted in such a harsh light, and while it is easy to criticize much of China's actions and aggressive approach to gaining power, there is hope.
The U.S. and China just established a trade deal that indicates a desire of the countries to develop peacefully. I cannot give any of this credit to Trump, as his primary focus was just protecting America from the possible power balance that could change as a result of China's economic growth.
However, considering China's history, this deal could be a move towards mutual peace and coexistence.
We are not at war with China. Sure, there are always talks of the trade war or a cold war, but at the end of the day, China's desire to cooperate with other powers is worthy of recognition.
On January 15th, China demonstrated its desire to mend its relationship with the U.S., as well as encourage peaceful economic growth and competition. Phase one of the deal claims that China will purchase $200 billion of U.S. agriculture, energy, manufacturing, and financial services; protect the intellectual property of American companies; and alleviate restrictions on America's financial services and technology market.
Another reason that we must stop the antagonizing rhetoric about China, is that no one wants war. There are several countries taking measures to mitigate its likelihood, and despite all the WW3 memes, it's not going to happen. The gravity of economic interdependence depends on trade relations, only maintained through peacekeeping. The U.S.'s efforts to peace keep are evident in the age-old defensive policy with Taiwan; America will only defend Taiwan in the scenario of an unprovoked attack from China.
This has inhibited Taiwan's ability to mobilize its independence, but it has also reduced the prospect of China furthering its aggression as a means of accumulating political and economic power.
Adopting an optimistic and inclusive outlook is important when looking towards the future. Social media has the power to spread stereotypes and prejudice like wildfire, and although it may seem like it won't affect politics - it can. Trump has made relations with China incredibly difficult and risky, but we can see that under the right leadership, there is hope. The nation wants to develop, just like every other country. China isn't the monster that Donald Trump has made it out to be.
