Didi Tang, Author at The Rapid City Post

FILE - Traditional Russian wooden dolls called Matryoshka depicting China's President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump at a souvenir shop in St. Petersburg, Russia, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky, File)

Trump’s pursuit of meeting with Chinese leader reveals the complex web of US-China relations

August 5, 2025

President Donald Trump is raising eyebrows in Washington with his approach to China. Concerns are growing that he might offer concessions that could hurt U.S. interests in his quest to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. There is no firm plan for a meeting, but many believe it must happen for a trade deal. Some worry Xi is leveraging Trump’s eagerness for concessions. Taiwan fears it could be “trade-able” in negotiations. Critics say Trump may cave to China to reach a deal. Meanwhile, export controls have been eased, causing concern among lawmakers about national security.

FILE - A Russian and Chinese national flag flutter near Tiananmen Gate for the visiting Russia's President Vladimir Putin, in Beijing, May 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)

China pushes back at US demands to stop buying Russian and Iranian oil

August 3, 2025

China has taken a firm stance against U.S. demands that it stop buying oil from Russia and Iran or face a possible 100% tariff. This comes as both countries signal goodwill in negotiating a trade deal after two days of talks in Sweden. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent acknowledges China’s position on oil purchases but suggests an overall trade deal remains likely. China has shown confidence in playing hardball when dealing with the Trump administration, especially when trade is linked to its energy and foreign policies. China was the only country that retaliated when President Donald Trump in April unveiled a sweeping plan for tariffs on dozens of countries.

Trump says a China trip is ‘not too distant’ as trade tensions ease

July 22, 2025

President Donald Trump says a trip to China may happen soon, hinting at efforts to stabilize U.S.-China trade relations. On Tuesday, he praised improving ties, noting record shipments from Beijing of rare-earth magnets used in iPhones and other technology. His comments that a trip is “not too distant” came a few months after he launched a trade war with China, raising tariffs to sky-high levels and drawing strong pushback from Beijing. Recent talks in Geneva and London led to scaled-back tariffs and eased trade restrictions, with further negotiations planned next week. Meanwhile, China suspended an antitrust investigation into DuPont China Group that was launched during the escalating trade moves.

FILE - Chinese President Xi Jinping attends an event at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)

US government employee banned from leaving China

July 22, 2025

The State Department says a U.S. government employee has been banned from leaving China while traveling there in a personal capacity. The department said Tuesday that it’s closely monitoring the case and engaging with Chinese authorities to resolve it. China has faced accusations of misusing exit bans to keep both foreign and Chinese nationals from leaving the country. Because of that, the U.S. previously warned citizens about traveling to China, but it eased its advisory in November after three Americans were released. Last week, reports emerged of a U.S.-based banker also being barred from leaving China. Chinese officials claim these cases follow legal procedures.

Trump and Philippine leader plan to talk tariffs and China at the White House

July 21, 2025

President Donald Trump plans to host Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House. The visit Tuesday highlights efforts to strengthen security and economic ties between the two countries as tensions rise in the Indo-Pacific. Their talks are expected to focus on mutual defense as China has become increasingly assertive in the South China Sea, where Manila and Beijing have clashed over hotly contested territory. The leaders also are negotiating a potential tariffs deal. Marcos met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday. Both sides emphasized their commitment to regional peace and economic collaboration.

FILE - The American and Chinese flags wave, Feb. 2, 2022, in Zhangjiakou, China. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File)

Global views of China and Xi improve, while they decline about the US and Trump, survey says

July 15, 2025

Global views of China and its leader Xi Jinping have improved, while opinions of the U.S. and Donald Trump have declined. That’s according to a Pew Research Center survey released Tuesday. It shows that international views of the two superpowers and their leaders are closer than since 2020. The results are a drastic departure from those in the past several years when the U.S. and its leader — then-President Joe Biden — enjoyed more favorable international views than China and its president. Pew didn’t provide definitive explanations for the shifts, but its associate director of research said it’s possible that views of a country may change when those of another superpower shift.

FILE - Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., speaks during the McIntyre-Shaheen 100 Club Dinner, April 27, 2025, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/Reba Saldanha, File)

Senate Democrats say Trump’s policies are hurting America’s ability to compete with China

July 14, 2025

Senate Democrats say President Donald Trump’s policies are weakening America’s ability to compete with China. In a report released Monday, they criticize foreign aid cuts, tariffs on allies and restrictions on foreign students. They argue such moves undermine U.S. influence and allow China to expand its global power. The White House says the U.S. is strong again under Trump and that his foreign policy is effective “because of his willingness to look anyone in the eye to get better deals for the American people.”

FILE - The smartphone apps DeepSeek page is seen on a smartphone screen in Beijing, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)

Bipartisan bill aims to block Chinese AI from federal agencies

June 25, 2025

New legislation in Congress would block Chinese artificial intelligence systems from federal agencies. It was introduced Wednesday as a bipartisan group of lawmakers pledged to ensure that the United States would prevail against China in the global competition over AI. And the House Select Committee on China held a hearing on the matter. About five months ago, a Chinese technology startup called DeepSeek introduced an AI model that rivaled platforms from OpenAI in performance, but cost only a fraction to build. This raised concerns that China was catching up to U.S. despite trade restrictions.

Didi Tang.