Key takeaways from Trump’s China trip : NPR
President Trump shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping as he departs after a visit to Zhongnanhai Garden in Beijing on May 15.
Evan Vucci/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
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Evan Vucci/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
BEIJING — At the end of his two-day visit to China, President Trump called the trip “incredible,” but while it was rich in pageantry, it did not result in concrete agreements.
Still, Trump praised trade deals with U.S. businesses and farmers, while Chinese leader Xi Jinping touted a new era for stable U.S.-China relations.
Trump returned to the United States after having lunch with Xi in Zhongnanhai, a rare visit to the Beijing compound where senior Chinese officials live and work.
“I think a lot of good has come from [this visit]. We made fantastic trade deals, good for both countries,” Trump said, sitting next to Xi with ornate tapestries as a backdrop.
Beans and Boeing
The White House has not released a detailed written account of the deals, but Trump, in an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News, said China would buy a lot of soybeans and Boeing planes.
Trump announced that China had agreed to order 200 planes – before hesitating.
“I kind of think it was a commitment. I mean, you know, it was kind of like a statement, but I think it was a commitment,” Trump added. “It’s a good thing. It means a lot of jobs.”
China has not yet confirmed these purchases.
This is not the first time Trump has announced trade deals with China only to have them fail.
China also did not say whether it had secured any specific agreements from the United States, but that is not unusual given that China views a leaders’ meeting as a way to set the parameters for future discussions, according to Wu Xinbo, director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai.
“They don’t necessarily deal with it issue by issue,” Wu said.
The success of this trip for both parties may take some time to materialize.
Taiwan
China has raised what it considers a red line: Taiwan, an autonomous island that Beijing claims as its own territory.
In a Chinese statement on the occasion of his visit, Xi stressed that if the Taiwan issue is mishandled by America, it could put the stability of China-US relations “at risk.”
President Trump reviews an honor guard with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People May 14 in Beijing.
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The American press release does not mention Taiwan. But Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an interview with NBC that the U.S. Policy towards Taiwan remained “unchanged”.
He also said it would be a “terrible mistake” for China to take Taiwan by force.
Trump said Xi asked during his trip whether the United States would defend Taiwan.
“I said I’m not talking about that,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One as he returned to the United States.
Iranian War
The United States and China say they discussed the Middle East conflict, although Trump went into detail.
“We feel the same way about [how] we want this to end. We don’t want them to have nuclear weapons. We want the straits to be open,” he said on Friday.
Personal relationships
Throughout his visit, Trump praised his Chinese counterpart, describing him in warm terms. Trump’s outpouring, however, was not matched by Xi, whose public remarks stuck to the long-term relationship between the nations.
Trump even paid Xi one of his most classic compliments, describing him as straight out of “central casting.”
“If you went to Hollywood and looked for a Chinese leader to play a role in a movie… you couldn’t find a guy like him,” Trump said of Xi during his interview with Hannity. “Even in terms of his physical characteristics, you know, he’s tall, very tall and, especially for this country, because they tend to be a little bit smaller.”
For Trump, diplomacy is all about personal relationships, agreeing with a leader and reaching an agreement or making a deal. This is all part of Trump’s approach. He leads with his instinct.
This could not be more different from the Chinese approach, which is deliberate and meticulously planned.
“I think Xi is less expansive than Trump because he wants to appear to have the upper hand,” said Dennis Wilder, a professor at Georgetown University who was a top China adviser to President George W. Bush.
Wu, of Fudan University, emphasized that personal relationships can only go so far.
“The most important thing is that they are respected [each other’s] national interests and also the responsibilities of China and the United States towards the rest of the world,” he said.
President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping visit the Zhongnanhai leadership complex May 15 in Beijing.
Mark Schiefelbein/Pool/Getty Images)
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Mark Schiefelbein/Pool/Getty Images)
Garden diplomacy
During their final meeting on Friday, the two leaders visited Zhongnanhai Gardens, while Trump admired the roses.
“These are the most beautiful roses anyone has ever seen,” Trump said.
Xi said he would share some Chinese rose seeds that Trump would plant in the White House rose garden.
Although many world leaders have visited Beijing in recent weeks, it is unusual for them to visit the compound.
Xi said it was meant to return the favor to Trump by welcoming him to Mar-a-Lago during his first term.
“This means that [China attaches] “This visit by President Trump to China is of great significance,” Wu said. “It also reflects the positive personal relationship between [the] two leaders. »
Big on pageantry, few details
Many analysts had not expected the trip since Trump imposed extremely high tariffs on Chinese exports last year upon returning to office.
But pageantry matters to the Chinese. And that’s something Trump has made no secret of wanting.
Trump was celebrated with three ceremonies featuring choreographed flags waving by Chinese youth, marching band performances and soldiers in training. Then there was a visit to the Temple of Heaven.
“The pomp prepared by the Chinese delegation served to give Trump the belief that he is a leader of historical significance, thereby making him even more inclined to override advisers who advocate a more confrontational approach to China,” said Ali Wyne of the International Crisis Group.
He said it also shows Trump how much China’s power and confidence have grown since his visit nearly a decade earlier.
Trump was also treated to a state banquet that included roast Peking duck and pan-fried pork buns.
Wu, who attended the dinner, said the food was delicious — although he didn’t see Trump eat much.
“He talked all the time [to Xi]” he said, adding that it was the warmest relationship he had seen between the United States and China in years. “I could say [Trump] I really appreciated his discussions with President Xi.
Additional research by Jasmine Ling
