Xi’s “best understanding” of Trump
On Trump’s first-term trip, China rolled out the red carpet for his arrival, with a band playing military music and children waving flags and chanting “Welcome.”
Xi offered a tour of the Forbidden City. Trump and first lady Melania Trump even had a private dinner there. Trump was the first foreign leader since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 to experience what was once reserved for emperors.
The next morning brought another welcome ceremony to the Great Hall of the People and presented a military parade. There was also a state banquet in Trump’s honor with video highlights from the Chinese leader’s earlier visit to Florida and a clip of Trump’s granddaughter Arabella singing in Chinese.
Ali Wyne, senior US-China research and advocacy adviser for the Washington non-profit Crisis Group, said “the Chinese delegation will likely do its best to ensure that Trump leaves Beijing believing he has just completed the most extraordinary state visit of his two presidencies.”
But, he said, “the pomp and circumstance would serve a different role now than when he first visited Beijing” because “Xi has a much better understanding of Trump and the administration’s national security strategy and national defense strategy recognize China as a close counterpart.”
Expectations for what is achieved may be lower this time, said Czin, now a fellow at the Brookings Institution. He predicted that the Chinese may not offer big advances on trade or anything else because they are “working backwards from our midterm elections” on the theory that the closer they get to Election Day “the more leverage they will have.”
The GOP is focused on keeping control of Congress, even though polls show most Americans are unhappy with Trump’s economic policies and believe the United States went too far on Iran.
However, the White House argues that Trump’s previous strong hand with Beijing on tariffs – which the Supreme Court later struck down – means the US will remain in a strong position.
“President Trump cares about results, not symbols,” Kelly said.
“But even so, the president has an excellent relationship with President Xi and the upcoming summit in Beijing will be symbolic and substantial.”
Trump and Xi may see a lot of each other this year
Trump may meet with China’s leader four times in eight months.
After his visit to Beijing, Trump plans to host Xi at the White House. Trump may also attend the November meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Shenzhen, China. And Xi may come to the Group of 20 summit next month at Trump’s resort in Doral, Florida.
Czin noted that Xi is also not very fond of travel, which means that not all scheduled meetings may happen. He said China’s leader also does not “make personal connections” as Trump likes, noting that Xi led a Chinese military purge in January that included replacing officials with long personal ties to his family.
Wyne, however, said Xi also “appreciates that he is unlikely to deal with another US president who admires him so much and embraces a narrow view of strategic competition”.
That means Xi could “try to get as many economic and security concessions from Trump as possible,” Wyne said.
