China did a fine job of concealing its anger if it had any at all at the United States for levying an additional 10% tax on all Chinese exports.

After warning repeatedly that there would be no victors in a trade war, it encouraged Washington to begin negotiations.

It continued to fire until midnight in Washington, and Beijing announced retaliatory duties on 10–15% on a range of US imports, including coal, crude oil, and big autos, beginning on February 10th, just as the tariffs on China went into effect.

It’s possible that the Chinese leadership maintained its composure in the hopes of reaching an agreement with Washington to prevent additional tariffs and prevent the relationship between the two biggest economies in the world from getting out of hand.

After all, just hours before the tariffs on Canada and Mexico went into force, US President Donald Trump agreed to reprieves with both countries. It is anticipated that Trump will speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week.

The US tax will hurt, particularly since it’s on top of the other tariffs Trump put on tens of billions of dollars’ worth of Chinese imports during his first term. Furthermore, China’s slow economy is already causing anxiety among its citizens.

Washington and Beijing have previously engaged in a heated debate over tariffs. However, Trump 1.0 has evolved significantly.

The first is that China’s economy is less dependent on the United States than it was in 2020. Beijing has improved its trade pacts with South America, South East Asia, and Africa. Today, it is more than 120 countries’ biggest commercial partner.

The extra 10% might not provide Trump the leverage he desires, but a deal might still be in the works, according to Carnegie China’s Chong Ja Ian.

Xi’s ‘win-win’ as America retreats

Together with the Philippines, all three are worried about China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea. They are particularly concerned about a potential conflict over the autonomous island of Taiwan, which Beijing views as a province that will eventually become a part of the nation and has not ruled out using force to accomplish this.

One of the most divisive topics in US-China ties has historically been Taiwan, with Beijing denouncing any apparent Washington backing for Taipei. To balance their economic ties with China, the majority of the region’s nations have formed a military alliance with Washington.

However, they might now form new Asian alliances with neither of the two greatest powers in the world, being cautious of Beijing and uncertain of the US.

But when Trump keeps threatening to buy Greenland or conquer Canada, it might be hard for Washington to respond to indications of Chinese aggression.

Calm before the storm

As Chinese families celebrated the New Year and welcomed the God of Fortune into their homes, Trump announced the US tariffs over the weekend.

On the greatest holiday of the year, most workers have left Beijing for their hometowns, and bright red lanterns are currently swinging over deserted streets.

China’s sole initial response had been to file a lawsuit and voice its complaints through the World Trade Organization. But Washington is not really threatened by this. When Donald Trump, then in his first term, rejected the appointment of judges to process appeals in 2019, the WTO’s dispute settlement mechanism was essentially shut down.

China then declared duties in retaliation. Party officials have choices to make when the holiday comes to an end and they head back to Beijing for work.

In recent weeks, officials have been buoyed by indications that the Trump administration may wish to maintain the relationship, particularly following what Trump described as “a great phone call” between the two leaders last month. But as China is increasingly seen by both Democrats and Republicans as America’s greatest economic and foreign policy danger, it will become more difficult.

“Mr. Trump’s unpredictable, impetuous, and careless actions will undoubtedly cause major shocks in the bilateral relationship,” says Wu Xinbo, director and professor at Fudan University’s Centre for American Studies.

Furthermore, there are a lot of hawks in his team—even extreme hawks on China. Over the next four years, there will inevitably be significant disruptions to the bilateral relationship.

China is undoubtedly worried about the impact a trade war may have on its faltering economy and its ties with the US.

However, it will also be searching for methods to swing the global community in its favor and inside its area of influence by using the current political pendulum.

“There were a few shots first in short succession, a short pause and then a few more,” Lena Warenmark, a different teacher, told public broadcaster SVT after hearing gunshots while she was in her study.

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Our current understanding of the school shooting

After the Orebro incident, witnesses were astonished to say, “There was blood everywhere.”

Six local schools and a restaurant were placed under police lockdown, and residents were advised to either avoid the area or remain indoors.

Social media footage also seemed to show pupils cowering beneath desks.

Additionally, a video taken from a balcony seemed to capture the sound of gunfire in rapid succession as people hurried away: