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US midterms could bring ‘renewed volatility’ to China ties, veteran diplomat warns
Election results might have ‘profound impact’ on relations if the Democrats win control of Congress, according to Bian Qingzu
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Orange WangPublished: 7:00pm, 10 Jun 2026If the Democrats win control of Congress in America’s midterm elections it could bring “renewed volatility” to relations with China, a veteran Chinese diplomat has warned.
“The results [of the 2026 midterms] … are likely to have a profound impact on the stability of China-US relations,” said Bian Qingzu, former secretary general of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.
Founded in 1954, the association has long been a conduit to foster non-governmental exchanges with other countries that have paved the way for official contacts.
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Bian – in a commentary posted on the China-US Focus website on Friday – said there was mounting “anti-Trump sentiment among American voters” and it was widely tipped that the Democratic Party could retake the House of Representatives, and possibly even the Senate.
He said after the elections, a “more assertive” US Congress was likely to push forward additional investigations and “confrontational” legislation targeting China.Advertisement“Democratic control of Congress could also put pressure on the White House to adopt a tougher stance on issues such as Taiwan and Xinjiang, potentially driving US-China relations from a phase of seeking stability back into one of renewed volatility,” Bian said.AdvertisementSelect VoiceSelect Speed00:0000:001.00x