Why China is playing it cool amid Trump’s disruption and churn
When the presidents of the United States and China meet in Washington, the world will be watching to see whether their two countries can make good on their agreement to work towards “constructive strategic stability”. In the first part of a series, Mark Magnier looks at expectations in the US for the summit. Chinese planners have been frustrated for months at the slow speed of decision-making and…
China appears unfazed by President Donald Trump's disruptive approach to international relations, as the world awaits the upcoming summit between the two global powers in Washington. The Chinese leadership has been frustrated with the slow pace of decision-making and limited engagement from a distracted US administration as they approach the high-stakes meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Former US officials, analysts, and individuals involved in planning the visit believe that this lack of coordination may have given Beijing an advantage by making any potential trade or security concessions more difficult to achieve. While some hoped for a major soy deal or numerous aircraft deliveries, Chinese expectations for the summit are reportedly very low, with no major deliverables anticipated.
This reduced anticipation is also a reflection of President Trump's preference for impromptu deals and his dismissal of detailed planning. With a series of ongoing issues and a smaller circle of decision-makers within the White House, the summit is unlikely to produce any breakthroughs. However, it will still serve as an opportunity for Trump to showcase his power and admiration for Xi, while Xi aims to demonstrate China's growing influence and ability to navigate the US-China relationship.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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