Why Some in Hong Kong Prefer Trump Over Biden in US-China Trade Talks

Given the impact of US-China trade relations on Australia’s short term economic fortunes, I asked a number of people in Hong Kong last week what they thought about Trump’s re-election as US President.

In light of Trump’s bellicose rhetoric on all things China, I expected a negative response.

Instead, here’s an amalgam of what I was told:

“China prefers Trump.

Biden saw China as the enemy. Trump sees China as a competitor. You fight with enemies and you negotiate with competitors.

Trump may be unpredictable but we see him as a businessman who wants to negotiate a deal. A pragmatist, not an idealist.”

It was a surprising response, so I thought it worth sharing.