Despite the compliments, the grandeur of the welcome, and the shared tea ritual, it was Xi Jinping who benefited most from Trump's initial journey to China in nine years.
Donald Trump's inaugural visit to China since 2017 didn’t unfold as Trump and his team had envisioned. Initially planned for March, its date was advanced by six weeks. Trump was intended to arrive in China as a victor. Subsequent to the triumphant military endeavor in Venezuela in January, the present US leadership anticipated that a further conflict against Iran would be swift and successful, that America would seize dominance over the globe’s most vital petroleum routes and dictate its conditions during talks with China.
Having failed to anticipate the potential danger of shutting the Strait of Hormuz and assistance to Iran from Russia and China, TSN.ua had already noted that Trump journeyed to Beijing from a position of weakness. And even as he lavished Xi with numerous praises, referring to him as a close comrade, the Chinese head of state cautioned the US president that missteps concerning Taiwan could precipitate conflict between the nations, alluding to the “Thucydides trap.” In essence, Xi hinted at the prospect of warfare between America and China.
Leading up to the visit, Beijing articulated its principal demand — the US cessation of weaponry sales to Taiwan, amounting to $11.1 billion. This constitutes the most substantial arms package ever for the island, declared by Washington the preceding December. En route home aboard Air Force One, Trump refrained from addressing reporters’ inquiries regarding whether the United States would defend Taiwan should China launch an assault. Regarding the arms transaction, he stated that he would render this verdict in the near future. And in dialogue with NBC News, Secretary of State Marco Rubio posited that China might seek to conduct a referendum on Taiwan’s voluntary integration into the PRC.
So, what precise agreements did Trump and Xi reach? Has Taiwan been relegated to a mere pawn? And what is the rationale behind Putin’s impending visit to Beijing immediately following Trump? Delve into the TSN.ua article.
Xi's Secret Garden: China Reaped Its Desired Outcome
Upon his return from China, Trump posted on Truth Social that China boasts its own ballroom, hence the United States should possess one as well. The US president was seemingly inspired by the Great Hall of the People — the Chinese parliament building — which he toured alongside Xi, advocating for his project to construct a $400 million ballroom to supplant the demolished East Wing of the White House.
Xi Jinping also escorted Trump through the clandestine former imperial garden, housing the CCP’s offices, showcasing trees aged between 200 and 300 years. As Trump touched a 280-year-old tree, he questioned Xi about the number of global leaders he was inviting there. The Chinese leader promptly mentioned Putin, who had arrived in Beijing for a military parade the previous September. And it was within this very garden that Putin and Xi deliberated on organ transplantation and the potential for attaining a lifespan of 150 years.
In addition to the robust “landing party” of senior executives from major American corporations, Trump was accompanied to China by his son Eric and his wife Lara. Elon Musk, who is actively fostering business ventures in China, brought his son along. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, granted entry into China (despite Beijing’s imposition of sanctions on him, he was still permitted to enter), was present with his spouse. The social media accounts of all members within the American delegation are replete with images capturing the elegance and extravagance of the reception, the lavish dinners featuring Peking duck, refined tuxedos, and evening gowns. Essentially, this marks the culmination of the efficacy of Trump’s three-day sojourn in China.
The sole accomplishment cited by the Trump administration pertains to the 200 Boeing aircraft China intends to acquire, with the possibility of expanding the order to 750. Nevertheless, it was anticipated that the PRC would procure 500 aircraft. Furthermore, in 2017, during Trump’s visit to China, Beijing finalized a contract for 300 aircraft. The likelihood of heightened Chinese purchases of American soybeans, crucial for American farmers who predominantly vote Republican, and oil also remains elusive. Despite declarations from the US administration regarding the associated trade agreements, the Chinese counterpart has refrained from affirming any of this.
The Trump contingent has been unable to publicly confirm whether it has rescinded a prohibition on the sale of NVIDIA chips (ranking second globally after Taiwan’s TSMC) to ten Chinese enterprises, as Reuters conveyed, for the advancement of artificial intelligence, potentially applicable in defense as well. Moreover, uncertainty lingers regarding whether the US-China trade truce, agreed upon by Trump and Xi at the APEC summit in Busan the preceding fall, will persist. Crucially, it remains unclear whether Beijing will sustain the unhindered export of rare earth elements — the bedrock of any defense sector — controlling approximately 70% of their extraction and an additional 90% of their processing.
Xi Awaits Putin: The Key Implicit Message
Putin is scheduled to visit Xi for a two-day engagement next week. This juncture undeniably carries significant symbolism and underlying connotations. Russia and China are jointly aiding Iran in withstanding the conflict with the United States, and Chinese tankers navigate the Strait of Hormuz without hindrance, unlike all other vessels. Trump, persistently threatening Iran with renewed hostilities, finds himself unable to conclude, let alone triumph in, this conflict. Concurrently, escalating energy expenses and inflation within the United States have severely impacted both Trump’s and Republicans’ approval ratings, rendering it nearly unattainable for them to secure victory in the midterm elections for the US Congress this November.
Following the visit to China, Trump and Rubio reportedly reached a consensus with Xi that Iran must not possess nuclear armaments and that the Strait of Hormuz should be reopened. Nevertheless, Beijing has not formally corroborated this. The US president also conveyed that he had addressed with Xi the matter of Russia’s warfare against Ukraine. However, in his assessment, Russia’s extensive missile and drone barrage on May 13-14 could undermine peace endeavors. Trump, in his customary manner, refrained from condemning Russia. Nevertheless, it is evident that Ukraine did not feature prominently in his discussions with Xi.
The paramount concern for China revolved around Taiwan. And in this regard, at least overtly, Beijing attained its desired outcome. In a dialogue with Fox News, Trump cautioned Taipei against proclaiming independence and relying on the US to unconditionally safeguard the island militarily. Coupled with the US president’s reluctance to affirm whether he would sanction the provision of arms to Taiwan under the latest, most substantial package of $11 billion, this undeniably served as a rude awakening for Taipei.
The visit, initially intended, according to experts, to at least preserve the status quo between the US and China, particularly concerning trade matters and the continuation of China’s rare earth element exports, proved to be a setback for the Trump administration. The Chinese propaganda apparatus exploited every aspect to deride the American administration. For instance, the Chinese disseminated a video depicting Trump touching a 280-year-old tree in a secret garden, appending that its age surpassed the independence of the United States. And the “friendship” Trump professed with Xi is strikingly exemplified by a New York Post journalist’s post on X, revealing that prior to boarding Air Force One, the American delegation discarded all presents and belongings acquired in China, some at the eleventh hour in a waste receptacle adjacent to the plane’s boarding ramp.
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