Commentary: After the Midterms, a Case for Realism in U.S.-China Relations

Caixin Global · Li Xin Published Nov 5 · 2026-11-05 00:00 UTC

As political leaders look toward the post-Trump era, the temptation to overcorrect on Beijing should be weighed against the economic realities of American constituencies

1. Before the 2026 midterms, the author met American China experts in Singapore, who described three layers of the U.S. approach: leaders engaging in dialogue, hawks in policy circles demanding a harder line, and ordinary Americans more focused on the domestic economy and cost of living—some even finding Chinese life “cool” on social media. [para. 1][para. 2][para. 3] One analyst predicted China would rarely be raised in the midterms, testing whether shifts in public attitudes filter through to Washington. [para. 4][para. 5][para. 6]

2. The campaign showed China had not disappeared. Both parties used “soft on China” as a political weapon, though such attacks were not ubiquitous. [para. 8][para. 9] Republicans attacked California Democrat Derek Tran over tariffs and Texas Democrat James Talarico over Chinese land purchases; Talarico, a newcomer, still won Texas by a wide margin—the state’s first Democratic Senate victory since 1988. [para. 10][para. 11][para. 12] Democrats used a Mandarin-language ad against Mississippi Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith over farmland purchases; it was an allegation, not established fact, but it showed the charge’s utility. [para. 13][para. 14]

3. Economic questions accompanied the attacks. In Iowa, Democrat Josh Turek blamed Trump’s tariffs for hurting agricultural exports, while Republican Ashley Hinson defended holding Beijing accountable. [para. 15][para. 16] In North Carolina, Democrat Don Davis demanded a verifiable timetable for China’s promised soybean purchases. [para. 17]

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