What happened when Xi Jinping met Donald Trump?

When China's President Xi Jinping arrived in America, he was met with a personal greeting from Donald Trump at the tarmac. This was the first time in more than 60 years that a sitting US president had personally welcomed a visiting political leader at Joint Base Andrews, a gesture designed to portray the two leaders as allies rather than adversaries. This marked a stark contrast from a year prior when China and America were engaged in a bitter trade war, with Xi successfully defying US tariff threats.

Trump now asserts that the two countries have never enjoyed better relations, hailing their connection as a "truly great friendship." However, this description of their relationship as a "great friendship" appears to be an overstatement of China's perspective. While China seeks to avoid conflict and maintain stability, it is not aiming for a friendship with America.

China's satisfaction with the current status quo appears to be more about buying time and avoiding a military confrontation, rather than fostering a close partnership.

The summit covered four major topics: trade, technology, Taiwan, and Iran. Despite being on the agenda, no significant progress was made on any of these issues. The US and China were still locked in a trade war, and China failed to pressure Iran to resolve its ongoing conflict and reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. Additionally, the US maintained its stance on arms sales to Taiwan and did not budge on its refusal to interfere in China's internal affairs.

While the summit did not produce major announcements, it did display a newfound warmth between Trump and Xi. This has raised concerns among Senate Democrats and even some within Trump's own party, who worry about the change in Trump's once-hawkish stance. Republican Senator Roger Wicker, the chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, questioned the invitation for Xi to visit Washington and the lavish reception given by Trump.

For China, the cordial atmosphere at the summit provides a largely uncontested path to continue advancing its global geopolitical and economic agenda. This includes positioning China as a diplomatic leader to rival the United States, challenging US hegemony, and increasing its soft power around the world. Recent Pew Research Center data shows that American attitudes towards China have become more positive in recent years, further fueling China's ambitions.

The success of these talks has also set the stage for potential future bilateral meetings this year, including one on the sidelines of APEC in Shenzhen, China, and another at the G20 summit in Miami. While four meetings in one year would be unprecedented, it is clear that the pageantry of these gatherings does not translate into meaningful diplomatic progress. The underlying differences and divisions between the two superpowers remain deeply entrenched.