What the Chinese government desires shouldn't stop the Chinese think tanks from getting the facts and prediction right. If they do, then 99% of them wouldn't predict a Clinton victory in 2016.
Not just the Chinese ones. Majority of the world expected a Clinton victory. I was rooting for Trump of course
After James Comey claimed to find more Clinton emails just a week before the election, the odd of Trump's upset shouldn't be a surprise. These think tanks shouldn't have been so unprepared for an upset. And so unprepared for Trump unorthodox way of maximum pressure negotiation and the tendency to flip-flop. President Xi was wise enough to give Trump false hope to stall them but killed the unequal agreements at the last minutes. Most Chinese think tanks either suggested capitulation or full out trade war. The problem is China doesn't have that much leverages against the US.
solarz
Brigadier
Everyone except Michael Moore predicted a Clinton victory.
Chinese think tanks should not be in the business of predicting US election results anyway.
There was nothing China could have done differently short of being able to see the future. China tried working with Trump at first, but it soon became clear that Trump had no intending of upholding his part of any bargain. Then we had the sanctions and the HK riots, and Xi cut off contacts with Trump.
Trump is a sociopath, you don't deal with a crazy person.
Besides, Trump was the best thing to happen to China for decades. The Chinese likely suspected this from the start. Why would they jeopardize this opportunity by appearing to support Trump?
It is part of the job of think tanks to predict election results and what way the political wind is blowing. Chinese think tanks have devoted enormous time to predict Taiwan election results. Just look at Taiwan and Hong Kong's today, if these think tanks have done a good jobs, then things wouldn't come to this.
solarz
Brigadier
That doesn't make sense. What difference would predicting Taiwan and HK election results make? The DPP is still going to be separatist no matter how accurately you predict the election. HK elections don't even matter.
China wanted KMT to win so that it can maintain temporary peace with Taiwan. As for HK, the central government wanted to pass article 23 and many policies so it required a total control of the legislative branch.
That recent article on cracking down on corruption to stymie Five-Eyes infiltration convinces me that the Hongkong thing was also aimed at cracking down on espionage.
CCP cannot admit that Western intelligence is deeply rooted.
Hong Kong has always been the center of espionage. It is a known fact. Churches, NGOs, and the US consulate haven't been targeted yet. We still need to see how far China is willing to go for the crackdown.
solarz
Brigadier
China doesn't have the ability to influence elections in Taiwan, and it will not interfere in elections in HK. This has nothing to do with the capabilities of Chinese think tanks.