--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I understand China, and I understand the…" description: "\"I understand China, and I understand the Chinese mind. I understand where they're coming from. They are not our friend.\" — Donald Trump" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a05/donald-trump-18_china_i-understand-china-and-i-understand-the_45041.jpg" --- # I understand China, and I understand the Chinese mind. I… ![“I understand China, and I understand the Chinese mind. I understand where they're coming from. They are not our friend.” quote by Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a05/donald-trump-18_china_i-understand-china-and-i-understand-the_45041.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a05/donald-trump-18_china_i-understand-china-and-i-understand-the_45041.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a05/donald-trump-18_china_i-understand-china-and-i-understand-the_45041.jpg) > “I understand China, and I understand the Chinese mind. I understand where they're coming from. They are not our friend.” [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A claim that the speaker perceives Chinese motivations as fundamentally opposed to American interests, emphasizing a lack of friendship. **In simple terms:** Perceived adversarial stance toward China Key Takeaway China is not a friend Themes geopolitics national security cultural perception foreign policy trust Mood defiant skeptical cautious Type political opinion analysis When to use this quote - diplomatic negotiations - trade discussions - military planning - public speeches Key Concepts misunderstanding stereotype strategic rivalry Practical Applications - policy formulation - public persuasion Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports this view? - How might this perception affect diplomatic efforts? A Different Perspective The statement oversimplifies complex international relations and ignores potential areas of cooperation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) [Chinese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chinese/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [I've read hundreds of books about China over the decades. I know the Chinese. I've made a lot of money with the Chinese. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-ve-read-hundreds-of-books-about-china-over-the-decades-i-know-the/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I fully understand the One-China policy. But I don't know why we have to be bound by a One-China policy unless we make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-fully-understand-the-one-china-policy-but-i-don-t-know-why-we-have/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [A solemn funeral is inconceivable to the Chinese mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-yutang/a-solemn-funeral-is-inconceivable-to-the-chinese-mind/) [Lin Yutang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-yutang/) > [China has to understand America wants to trade with them. We want a world that's stable. We like free enterprise, but you got to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/china-has-to-understand-america-wants-to-trade-with-them-we-want-a/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [For China to continue to enjoy economic prosperity, it needs to foster trusting international relationships, not tensions ... and it is important for China…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinzo-abe/for-china-to-continue-to-enjoy-economic-prosperity-it-needs-to-foster/) [Shinzo Abe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shinzo-abe/) > [Do understand: Chinese people are brilliant; the West cannot fool them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-vltchek/do-understand-chinese-people-are-brilliant-the-west-cannot-fool-them/) [Andre Vltchek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-vltchek/) > [I wanted to analyse and understand how the Chinese people could have their lives so crushed by fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ma-jian/i-wanted-to-analyse-and-understand-how-the-chinese-people-could-have/) [Ma Jian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ma-jian/) > [ Except if it has some historical meaning for them to have Tibet under their control. I don't understand why \[ Chinese\] want it so much. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/except-if-it-has-some-historical-meaning-for-them-to-have-tibet-under/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [We still insist, by and large, in thinking that we can understand China by simply drawing on Western experience, looking at it through Western…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-jacques/we-still-insist-by-and-large-in-thinking-that-we-can-understand-china/) [Martin Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-jacques/) > [I really think it's extremely important for Americans to better understand China. And by better, I mean don't just read their lines. You've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-baucus/i-really-think-it-s-extremely-important-for-americans-to-better/) [Max Baucus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-baucus/) > [More understand China, then more people will have interest in China and more people will come to China to visit us because I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/more-understand-china-then-more-people-will-have-interest-in-china/) [Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/) > [What is applicable is to understand that first of all China has undergone a huge revolution in the last years. Anyone who saw China…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/what-is-applicable-is-to-understand-that-first-of-all-china-has/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [It is quite easy to understand what China would need from the African continent with regards to its own economy, raw materials, oil and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/it-is-quite-easy-to-understand-what-china-would-need-from-the-african/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [There is no difference in a country between military, economic, and political affairs. It's useful for Business Insider to divide things that way. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/there-is-no-difference-in-a-country-between-military-economic-and/) [George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/) > [The importance of elections, transparency, legal procedures, an independent army, and the judicial system is not regarded as highly in China. These core values…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/the-importance-of-elections-transparency-legal-procedures-an/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) ## More by Donald Trump > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [As far as Japan is concerned, I want to help all of our allies, but we are losing billions and billions of dollars. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/as-far-as-japan-is-concerned-i-want-to-help-all-of-our-allies-but-we/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Change your attitude and gain some altitude. Believe me, you'll love it up here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/change-your-attitude-and-gain-some-altitude-believe-me-you-ll-love-it/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In my former life I was in insider, as much as anybody else. And I knew what it's like, and I still know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/in-my-former-life-i-was-in-insider-as-much-as-anybody-else-and-i-knew/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [If you have a good idea you must explain it or you will fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/if-you-have-a-good-idea-you-must-explain-it-or-you-will-fail/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [You know, we can't beat ISIS. We can't do anything. We can't take care of our vets. We can't have good health care. "Obama…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/you-know-we-can-t-beat-isis-we-can-t-do-anything-we-can-t-take-care/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I have my own opinions; you can have your own opinions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-have-my-own-opinions-you-can-have-your-own-opinions/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [ David Cameron was wrong on this \[Brexit\]. He didn't get the mood of his country right. He was very surprised to see what happened. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/david-cameron-was-wrong-on-this-brexit-he-didn-t-get-the-mood-of-his/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The interesting thing is that everyone in golf is just nice. You learn a lot about people playing golf: their integrity, how they play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-interesting-thing-is-that-everyone-in-golf-is-just-nice-you-learn/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [So in our shared mission to make America great again, I support and endorse our Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/so-in-our-shared-mission-to-make-america-great-again-i-support-and/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I would've easily won the popular vote, much easier, in my opinion, than winning the electoral college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-would-ve-easily-won-the-popular-vote-much-easier-in-my-opinion-than/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I didn't do anything for Russia. I've done nothing for Russia. Hillary Clinton gave them 20% of our uranium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-didn-t-do-anything-for-russia-i-ve-done-nothing-for-russia-hillary/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I want regulation. I want to protect our environment. I want regulations for safety. I want all of the regulations that we need, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-want-regulation-i-want-to-protect-our-environment-i-want/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) [Explore all 3,556 Donald Trump quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) ## More China quotes > [I don't want to go into space because of war. I think we would if it was triggered. If China said they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-don-t-want-to-go-into-space-because-of-war-i-think-we-would-if-it/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [ \[The Dalai Lama\] told me some years ago, "I've made every concession to China, and I've been as open and tolerant as I could,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/the-dalai-lama-told-me-some-years-ago-i-ve-made-every-concession-to/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [One of the things the United States does well is building coalitions. What the U.S. knows is that if you don't have a coalition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/one-of-the-things-the-united-states-does-well-is-building-coalitions/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [There is no precedent of an advanced economy withdrawing from a trade agreement as deep and as complex as the European Union.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-johnson/there-is-no-precedent-of-an-advanced-economy-withdrawing-from-a-trade/) [Jo Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-johnson/) > [In China, people are moving from bigger cars to small hatches, and interestingly, the Indian market is graduating to bigger cars and sedans. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winfried-vahland/in-china-people-are-moving-from-bigger-cars-to-small-hatches-and/) [Winfried Vahland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winfried-vahland/) > [Broken china lasts longer than unbroken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/broken-china-lasts-longer-than-unbroken/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [Language is so specific to art, all the way to the past in China. Previously, people were not allowed to include various regional dialects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jia-zhangke/language-is-so-specific-to-art-all-the-way-to-the-past-in-china/) [Jia Zhangke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jia-zhangke/) > [I don't see why we and the Chinese should have to be enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-don-t-see-why-we-and-the-chinese-should-have-to-be-enemies/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [India may be overtaking China as the world's most polluted country. Even now, which country is worse depends on the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-inskeep/india-may-be-overtaking-china-as-the-world-s-most-polluted-country/) [Steve Inskeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-inskeep/) > [If China someday gains a more fair, just, and accountable system of government, it will be due to the hard work and efforts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/if-china-someday-gains-a-more-fair-just-and-accountable-system-of/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [We're always willing to look at ways NAFTA can work better. But it's a fine line between looking at ways to make it work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/we-re-always-willing-to-look-at-ways-nafta-can-work-better-but-it-s-a/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [The situation with Tibet has to change. China is one of the last huge dictatorships, holding on to these colonies, provinces. That has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/the-situation-with-tibet-has-to-change-china-is-one-of-the-last-huge/) [Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/) > [Put plainly, China seems determined to steal its way up the economic ladder, at our expense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/put-plainly-china-seems-determined-to-steal-its-way-up-the-economic/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [The remarkable thing about the Chinese is that they've operated differently than the Russians, the Iranians, and the North Koreans. By and large, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-sanger/the-remarkable-thing-about-the-chinese-is-that-they-ve-operated/) [David E. Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-sanger/) [Browse all 3,827 China quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I understand China, and I understand the Chinese mind. I understand where they're coming from. 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