What the U.S. midterms mean for ties with China

Subscribed with another email? Logout and Login with that one. Unlock these with Subscription Published - November 05, 2026 08:00 am IST - Beijing Image used for representation purpose only. | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto A sweeping victory for Democrats in U.S. midterm elections this week, giving them control of Congress, presents both an opportunity and challenge for top rival China , analysts say. Here is how the outcome of the vote, which offers the Democratic Party the power to stymie President Donald Trump’s maverick foreign policy, could impact the thorny relationship between Washington and Beijing: Winning control of both houses in the U.S. Congress puts Democrats in a position to limit Mr. Congress will “take every opportunity to thwart (Mr. Congress will be “less inclined to support measures that would sharply escalate pressure on China if doing so risks raising costs for American consumers and businesses or increasing the likelihood of conflict”, said Patricia Kim, a foreign policy fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington. But a Democrat-controlled Congress “may force Trump to resume arms sales to Taiwan next year”, Wu said. “If that happens, that will also undermine the stability of U.S.-China relationship.” Alternatively, for China, renewed support of Taipei from the U.S. Congress may be “a stronger incentive for (Beijing) to play it safer with Taiwan”, said Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute. Nevertheless, Thompson pointed out, while Congress can pass bills requiring Mr.