How did Trump's relationship with China evolve during his presidency?

Donald Trump's presidency was marked by a complex relationship with China, which evolved over time. When Trump first took office in 2017, he expressed admiration for Chinese President Xi Jinping and initially sought to develop a personal rapport with him. However, tensions quickly arose over trade and economic issues.

In 2018, the Trump administration launched a trade war against China, imposing tariffs on billions of dollars worth of Chinese goods in an effort to reduce the US trade deficit with China. This move was met with retaliation from China, which imposed tariffs of its own on US goods. The two sides engaged in several rounds of negotiations, but tensions remained high.

Amid the trade war, the US also took a tougher stance on China's human rights record, criticizing China's treatment of ethnic minorities and imposing sanctions on Chinese officials involved in the crackdown in Hong Kong. The Trump administration also took action against Chinese tech companies, including Huawei and TikTok, citing national security concerns.

Overall, Trump's relationship with China was marked by both cooperation and confrontation, with the two sides engaging in a range of economic and political disputes throughout his presidency.