Staatsbesuch: Trump empfängt Xi: Viel Pomp und demonstrative Harmonie

Despite numerous points of contention, US President Donald Trump showcased a harmonious relationship between the United States and China during his visit from Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The President received Xi at the White House with grandeur and showered him with praise. Xi reciprocated with warm words, but also delivered cautionary remarks.

During the state visit, there were few concrete outcomes. "President Xi and I are aware that we represent different systems," Trump said at a state banquet that night, "but the ties between our peoples remain strong, and we have never understood each other as well as we do now." Xi mentioned "many new agreements" during talks with Trump, but did not provide details.

He urged both countries to act responsibly, stating that China and the US were at a "historic crossroads." Both sides were to demonstrate responsibility and find a new way to coexist, Xi explained, without naming specifics. China emphasized its stance on Taiwan during bilateral talks with Trump, expressing hope that the US would maintain a proper stance against Taiwan's independence and handle the Taiwan issue prudently.

The US sells weapons to Taiwan despite it being an independent and democratic island nation, while China claims Taiwan for itself and does not exclude the possibility of a military invasion. Whether the US military would assist Taiwan in the event of an attack remains traditionally ambiguous in the US government. Xi's first White House reception in over ten years was his first visit since a 2015 trip to California for the APEC economic summit.

Trump invited Xi to the White House in mid-May. Xi's last state visit with a White House reception was in 2015. It is speculated that Xi and Trump may meet again during the APEC summit in Shenzhen and the G20 summit in Miami this year. According to Xinhua, both confirmed supporting the organization of these events. Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan arrived in the US on Wednesday for a three-day state visit.

The US administration announced a further pause in the customs dispute immediately upon their arrival, though Beijing initially did not confirm this. Former US ambassador to Beijing Nicholas Burns considers the lavish reception for Xi as misguided. Burns stated that he had spent a lot of time with Xi and experienced him as stubborn and pragmatic.

"His overall strategy is to undermine the United States," Burns said on PBS, adding that he does not believe Xi Jinping can be swayed by flattery. New US sanctions against Russia could affect China. The US hopes for Chinese pressure on the important maritime route, as China is the largest buyer of Iranian oil and a crucial political partner for Tehran.

The trade conflict between the two nuclear powers and the US-Russia conflict in Ukraine burden the relationship between the two states. A new US sanctions package against Russia might particularly affect China, which is a significant supporter and trading partner of Russia. Besides the trade conflict between the two largest economies, the handling of artificial intelligence (AI) development is also a point of contention between Trump and Xi, as both nations are rivals in this future technology.

Xi is set to conclude his Washington visit with a tea ceremony and a visit to the National Archives to view founding documents of the US, marking the 250th anniversary of the country's birth.