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Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in this week's U.S. midterm elections, positioning the party to play a larger role in shaping Washington's China policy. But despite differences over how to approach Beijing, the bipartisan emphasis on strategic competition suggests that the broader direction of U.S.-China policy may remain largely unchanged.

Following the election, Beijing reaffirmed its support for continued dialogue with Washington. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning described the elections as a U.S. domestic affair and said China would continue working to implement the understandings reached by the two presidents. She also called for stronger communication, better management of differences, and expanded cooperation to maintain stability in bilateral relations.

The results come ahead of the expected meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in Shenzhen later this month, as trade negotiations continue under a truce set to expire in January. Beijing also confirmed it was in communication with relevant parties about a possible trilateral meeting between Trump, Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

Meanwhile, following last week's Fifth Plenum of the Communist Party of China, Beijing published a resolution aimed at strengthening internal Party governance and combating corruption. The document outlines measures to improve oversight of officials and major decisions, including stricter standards for personnel appointments ahead of an anticipated leadership reshuffle next year. The plenum also confirmed that the 21st National Congress of the Communist Party of China will convene in Beijing in the second half of 2027.

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