Midterm polls show polarized US

Editor's note: The Democratic Party regained control of the House of Representatives and the Republican Party retained the Senate in the US midterm elections. What do the election results suggest? And what influence the results will have on the US' domestic affairs and diplomacy? Four experts share their views on the issue with China Daily's Liu Jianna. Excerpts follow:

Polls reflect social changes

Zhu Feng

The US midterm elections ended in a small victory for the Democrats and a small failure for the Republicans.

The results reflect the Democrats' rising influence on voters and the inability of the Republicans to win the support of more voters, which means the political ruptures in the US could intensify leading to more political fighting.

With a Democrats-led House, the Trump administration's economic and immigration policies would be subject to more checks and balances.

To some extent, the potential political dilemma in domestic affairs is likely to prompt the Trump administration to seek more diplomatic breakthroughs, which may manifest in more determined and tough sanctions on Iran, shouldering more responsibilities to keep US allies happy, and laying more emphasis on safeguarding US sovereignty.

Confronted with mounting political pressure at home, the US government could refrain, to a large extent, from intensifying the conflicts with Russia and China. Yet despite millions of US households' immediate interests being at stake due to the US-China trade conflict, the chances of Trump intensifying the conflict have only lessened, not been ruled out.

In general, the results of the midterm elections will not greatly influence the Trump administration's ability to implement its economic policies, as the Republicans still control the Senate, which wields more power than the House in allocating funds.

Three distinct characteristics were evident in the midterm elections.

First, both political parties paid undivided attention to the elections and exhibited outstanding capability to mobilize voters in a society that today is more distinctly divided between liberals and conservatives. Which was evident in the largest voter turnout and campaign funds in decades.

Second, the divide between the two parties' supporters is not confined to economic, religious and gender issues, but also involves the development direction of the US. The question is: Can the US balance its international responsibilities as a liberal country with the economic nationalism that champions "American first"?

And third, young voters played a more active role in the elections. Not only were more youths attracted to the conservative camp, but also more of them cast their ballots hoping the US would return to the traditional track of liberalism.

As for China, it should neither underestimate nor overestimate the elections' results. With the two countries reaching a crossroad in their relations, the most important task is to push the dialogue mechanism forward and ensure the meeting between the two countries' leaders proceeds smoothly and yields mutually beneficial results. Still, China has to concentrate more on deepening reform and opening-up.

Zhu Feng, dean of the Institute of International Relations, Nanjing University