Will Xi Jinping handle Harris "like a baby"?
On October 24, Trump claimed that Chinese President Xi Jinping would handle Harris “like a baby.” With this slander, he aimed to devalue Harris’s ability to handle international affairs and question her ability to defend the US’s national interests.
This post will argue that Trump’s worry is unwarranted. In fact, for every deal Trump could get from China, Harris could get it with relatively lower effort. I will prove this through Meloni’s visit, Xi Jinping’s temperament, and Chinese culture.
Meloni’s visit in China
In July, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited China and met Xi Jinping, after which she vowed to relaunch ties with China. A photo in which Meloni and Xi Jinping had a walk was released. From Xi Jinping’s shy and flattery smile in this photo, I know for sure that Meloni was to get a very favorable deal.
The reason is that Chinese leaders feel less stressed and threatened when dealing with female Western leaders. They do not need to puff them up like a wolf warrior; in consequence, they are more likely to make well-intentioned compromises.
Westerners may not understand the underlying mechanism: To demonstrate his male hormone, shouldn’t a man become more aggressive in front of an appealing woman? Well, I would call it a cultural difference.
Macron of France, sharing the same cultural roots as Italy, was quick to adapt. The day before yesterday, he sent his wife Brigitte to the Louvre to visit a Chinese exhibition featuring brocade and embroidery.
Harris may not be as charming as Meloni, but her crystal-like laughter can ease the embarrassment and tension between the two nations. In China, we have a saying that a girl who likes to smile has good luck. This luck, I believe, would nail good deals for the U.S..
Note: I am not saying that this strategy is a one-click winning button; I am saying that this strategy will work if used in good faith.
Xi Jinping’s temperament
November last year, Biden called Xi Jinping a dictator. This claim is not wrong, but this dictator is slightly different from the stereotypical ones in Western movies. Unlike Putin, who crafts his social profile as a “tough man,” Xi Jinping wants to be viewed as a “kind parent” and “generous gentleman.”
According to Confucianism, the Chinese emperor has the duty to love Chinese people like his own children (爱民如子). This tradition persists today, which is why Chinese media affectionately called Xi Jinping “Uncle Xi” (习大大), acknowledging his parental status.
On multiple international occasions, Xi Jinping enumerated a list of Western writers he had read about. I heard it was a Western tradition for medieval knights to brag about their feats in front of noble ladies and for romantic young men to sing under the window of beloved ones. Thus, Xi’s unconventional speech should be interpreted as “gentleman’s courtship with Chinese characteristics.”
With a social profile of “kind parent” and “generous gentleman,” it would be hard for us to imagine that Xi Jinping would abuse and prey on Harris.
Chinese culture
Contrary to popular Western beliefs, China has a long tradition of protecting women’s rights since ancient times. This unpopular opinion from me warrants a separate book in its own right. Here, I will only give some modern evidence.
Wandering on the urban streets in any major Chinese city, you will frequently observe a group of old Chinese women, roughly the same age as Xi Jinping, dancing confidently and cheerfully on the playground or square.
For those old women who are not a big fan of dancing, they constitute the majority of individual investors in real estate, gold, and foreign exchange. They surf on the capital market and continue their life epics.
This self-confidence of Chinese women was cultivated during their youth when Mao Zedong advocated that women were as capable as men (妇女能顶半边天). Xi Jinping grew up during this epoch.
Legend has it that Xi Jinping respects his wife, Peng Liyuan, a lot, definitely much more than he would respect Trump. Thus, it is unlikely for Xi Jinping to take Harris lightly. Trump does not understand this: he despises women, including his wife, so he takes it for granted that Xi must despise women as well.
Conclusion
Harris might not get a better deal than Trump could from China, but for every deal Trump could get, Harris could get it with a lower effort. For whatever Trump gets through bully, coercion, and threats, Harris needs only a gentle and sincere smile.
Of course, Harris can also choose to be tough like Trump and Biden, but that choice is for Harris to make. Harris has more options than Trump and Biden.
If Xi Jinping were to handle Harris “like a baby,” this would only be spoiling her like a baby rather than “taking candies from a baby.” (By the way, only Westerners have the sort of perverse idea of taking candies from babies.)
Disclaimer: This post was not created to influence the 2024 US election. As a Chinese with expertise in China, I feel responsible for giving my two cents to help the American people make an informed decision.