President Trump’s recent hints at negotiating with China might be just what Beijing needs right now. Instead of escalating tensions, Trump’s softer stance—like proposing a 10% tariff instead of the 60% he previously threatened—could give China some breathing room to tackle its economic struggles and boost its position on the global stage.

During his first days back in office, Trump floated ideas like tying tariffs to TikTok’s future and even suggested he’d be invited to China for a visit. This signals a willingness to cut deals, which Beijing could use to its advantage.

China’s economy has been struggling, and tensions with trading partners over its massive trade surplus aren’t helping. On top of that, China has been trying to patch up relationships with U.S. allies like Japan to weaken the alliances formed under the Biden administration.

If Beijing can make progress on these fronts, it could strengthen its position in the ongoing rivalry with the U.S. Analysts think China might try to win Trump over by meeting some of his demands, like selling TikTok, cracking down on fentanyl production, or refreshing the 2020 trade deal.

Ultimately, China wants the U.S. to ease restrictions on technology imports, stop supporting Taiwan, and recognize China as an equal power. Trump’s openness to negotiation might just be the break Beijing needs to push these goals forward.

For now, it seems both sides could benefit from a compromise—one that meets their immediate needs without too much sacrifice. Let’s see if they can make it happen.