Kenneth Glad
A carefully staged visit brought smiles, formal welcomes and talk of cooperation. The deeper tests for both governments, however, stayed on the table.
Donald Trump ended his two-day China visit today after meetings with Xi Jinping that mixed diplomatic theatre with limited public evidence of new agreements.
The itinerary was designed for impact: An arrival ceremony, a visit to the Temple of Heaven, and a state banquet at the Great Hall of the People.
According to The Guardian, Trump praised the trip, saying: “This has been an incredible visit.”
He also claimed “fantastic trade deals” had been made, including Chinese purchases of US oil, soybeans and Boeing aircraft, though Beijing did not confirm the figures.
Iran follows talks
The war in Iran remained a central issue. Washington has looked to China, a major buyer of Iranian oil, to help keep pressure on Tehran and protect shipping through the strait of Hormuz.
Trump said: “We did discuss Iran. We feel very similar about [how] we want it to end. We don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon. We want the straits open.”
China’s foreign ministry called for a ceasefire and said the strait should reopen “as soon as possible”.
The British newspaper furthermore writes that Beijing is wary of being handed responsibility for a crisis it views as rooted elsewhere.
Difficult cases
Taiwan drew some of Xi’s firmest language. He warned that mishandling the issue could lead to “clashes and even conflicts”.
Trump later said “nothing’s changed” in US policy, while also acknowledging he had not decided whether to approve a planned arms package for Taiwan.
Taipei responded by stressing that arms sales are part of Washington’s commitments under the Taiwan Relations Act.
Human rights received little public attention during the trip. Trump told Fox News that Xi was “seriously considering” releasing jailed pastors, but he described Jimmy Lai’s case as a “tough one”.
Analysts quoted by The Guardian said the summit showed Beijing trying to lock in a relationship in which China is treated more like Washington’s equal.
Outside the official venues, the visit disrupted daily life. Near Trump’s hotel, residents complained about repeated road closures, while one Beijing observer said of Trump:
“What he says isn’t necessarily what it means.”
Sources: The Guardian; Fox News
