How the ‘G2’ effect of Trump-Xi summit is reverberating through Asia

The recent summit between China's President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump has sparked a debate on its impact in Asia. Chinese state media praised the summit, describing it as a new chapter in ties between the major powers, while US media and pundits dismissed it as largely symbolic and lacking substance. However, the summit may be having a more significant impact than initially thought, particularly in Japan and Taiwan.

The idea of a US-China Group of Two framework has been revived, with Trump offering Xi the highest-level reception and meeting him at the airport - a first since 1962. Both leaders agreed to build a "constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability based on respect, fairness and reciprocity," drawing parallels to their WWII alliance. This message is crucial for regional stability, particularly for China's ties with Japan and Taiwan.

The references to WWII have particularly unsettled Japan, where ties with China have worsened since November. Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressed unease about the ties and received a briefing from Trump over the phone. The message may also unsettle Taiwan, as the US has not explicitly stated its stance on Taiwan independence. Trump even reportedly asked Xi whether China wanted to buy American weapons, suggesting a potential change in US policy.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the G2 framework, the summit has brought stability to the US-China relationship and opened up avenues for cooperation on various issues, including Russia, North Korea, and Iran. The G20 summit in Miami and future meetings in Shenzhen are expected to further strengthen this relationship, signaling that even with their differences, the two major powers can still work together on key global challenges.