Mr Donald Trump’s vision of a more inward-looking United States is good and bad news for China. While there may be room for Beijing to play a bigger role in global affairs, it also has to engage a somewhat unpredictable White House.

Analysts noted that the world’s most important bilateral relationship is multifaceted and should not be regarded as the zero-sum game that Mr Trump repeatedly portrayed on his controversial campaign trail.

But while both sides are in the process of recalibrating ties, the President-elect’s suspect temperament could complicate matters.

… Assistant Professor Evan Resnick, who coordinates the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies’ (RSIS) U.S. Programme told TODAY that “part of the risks (facing both countries) is he’s (Mr Trump) so mercurial right now”.

“Chinese leaders will now have someone to do business with and he will not interfere too much in the geo-political neighbourhood but, then again, Trump is all over the place (with respect to foreign policy),” he said.