Experts predict the already rocky relationship between the U.S. and China will get worse as the November general election nears.
As the countries fight over the coronavirus pandemic and the trade war between the two countries continues, experts told CNBC that tensions will continue to rise.
Yale University senior fellow Stephen Roach told CNBC he “wouldn’t rule anything out” when it comes to what actions the Trump administration may take against China, especially as he is campaigning for reelection.
“The end game for the Trump administration is crystal clear — and that is winning the election,” Roach said. “This is not about improving economic security for Americans, American companies, no matter what they say. This is a politically motivated trade conflict.”
The Trump administration has continued to slam China publicly.
On Wednesday, Trump blasted China over the origin of the coronavirus in a tweet, saying that it was the “incompetence of China” that caused “this mass Worldwide killing.”
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday said the $2 billion that Beijing has pledged to fight the pandemic was “paltry” in comparison to the hundreds of thousands of lives lost and trillions of dollars of damage that the coronavirus caused. Pompeo also rejected Chinese President Xi Jinping’s claim that Beijing had been transparent about the outbreak in China during a State Department news conference.
China hasn't backed down from the fight either. Diplomatic officials have fired back at U.S. leaders.
Cornell University professor Eswar Prasad said there will be more action and words against China to come.
“It’s very clear the Trump administration means business and the hardliners seem to be viewing the pandemic as an opportunity to get even tougher on China than was the case before,” said Prasad, who was previously head at the International Monetary Fund’s China division.
Prasad doesn't predict that Trump will ease up on China as the election gets closer.
“I think for Trump it certainly makes sense to try to look tough on China and his base is probably going to respond positively.”
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