First Message of President Trump to China

President Trump breaks ice with China in letter seeking 'constructive' ties

After Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated Donald Trump on winning the U.S. presidency on a phone call , telling him the two biggest economies in the world shared responsibility for promoting global development and prosperity in November, President Donald Trump has finally broken the ice with Chinese President Xi Jinping in a letter that said he looked forward to working with him to develop relations, although the pair have not spoken directly since Mr Trump took office. 

The letter thanked Mr Xi for his congratulatory note on Mr Trump's inauguration and wished the Chinese people a prosperous Lunar New Year of the Rooster, the White House said in a statement.

"President Trump stated that he looks forward to working with President Xi to develop a constructive relationship that benefits both the United States and China," it said.

China said it attached great importance to China-US ties after confirming it received the letter.

Wang Yiwei, a professor of international relations at Beijing's elite Renmin University, said the letter suggested the new US administration wanted to signal the importance it attached to the US-China relationship without risking being confronted on specific issues.

"Trump has sent many messages that makes the world confused, like on the South China Sea and 'One China' policy, so if he makes a phone call President Xi will ask 'what do you mean?'," Mr Wang said.

"He wants to avoid this so he just sends a letter for the first step."

China appreciates Trump's greetings on Chinese Lantern Festival

China on Thursday confirmed that it has received a letter to President Xi Jinping, sent by U.S. President Donald Trump, who extended his greetings ahead of the Lantern Festival.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang made the remarks at a daily press briefing, responding to reports that Trump on Feb. 8 sent a letter to President Xi, wishing Xi and the Chinese people a happy Lantern Festival and saying that he looked forward to working with China to develop a constructive relationship.

"China attaches great importance to developing the relationship with the United States," said Lu.

China is ready to work with the U.S. side to expand cooperation and manage any differences guided by the principles of upholding non-conflict and non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, so that bilateral ties develop in a healthy and stable way, said Lu.

Lu added, just as President Xi has said, China and the United States both had a responsibility to safeguard world peace and stability, and promote global development and prosperity.

"Cooperation is the only right choice for China and the United States,"said Lu.

What is Next? There are many difficulties

Mr Trump upset China in December by taking a phone call from Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen — China considers Taiwan a wayward province with no right to formal diplomatic relations with any other country.

Mr Trump has also threatened to slap tariffs on Chinese imports, accusing Beijing of devaluing its yuan currency and stealing US jobs.

In his Senate confirmation hearing, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said China should not be allowed access to islands it has built in the disputed South China Sea.

The White House also vowed to defend "international territories" in the strategic waterway.

On the other hand, many prominent specialists on Chinese affairs have joined chorus of opposition to Trump's questioning Washington's "one China policy" before taking office.

"Every president of both parties since 1971 has accepted this framework, and once that framework is studied, I do not expect it to be overturned ... To make Taiwan the key issue at the beginning of this dialogue is, in my view, unwise and not the most efficient way of proceeding," Kissinger said.

Michael Swaine, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, called Trump's phone call with Taiwan leader "reckless action."

"It would serve absolutely no U.S. interest, and raise many risks, for Trump to entertain such a fantasy," Swaine said.

"A needless blunder that foolishly complicates U.S.-China relations fails to advance U.S. interests, and calls into questioning the readiness of the Trump team to manage foreign policy," Avery Goldstein, political science professor at the University of Pennsylvania, said of Trump's Taiwan call.

There are so many difficulties between the two countries, and it is Trump now, no now know how it will go.