While the rest of the world weighs the impact of a Donald Trump or a Kamala Harris victory in Novembers US presidential election, both candidates present serious challenges for China. To be sure, neither seems to want open conflict between the two powers, which could precipitate a nightmarish descent into global chaos. But Chinese decision-makers expect bitter disputes over trade, technology, and Taiwan regardless of who wins.
China is preparing for more turbulence by taking a whole-country approach to its relations with the US. That means moving beyond the realm of foreign affairs and coordinating with economic policymakers, military personnel, and technology leaders, as well as mobilizing resources across the country. Such an approach is informed by the US strategy of containment, which in recent years has included relentless efforts to maintain Americas technological supremacy, curb Chinas access to the global market, and build a coalition of allies, both in Asia and elsewhere, to tackle the China challenge. Feeling under siege, China is girding itself for long-term enmity with the worlds largest economy.
