New start: Trump, Xi and Sino-US ties
- By Kyle Calandra
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E-mail China.org.cn, April 3, 2017
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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) meets with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Beijing, March 18, 2017.[Photo/Xinhua] |
On March 13, a senior administration official told CNN that President Donald Trump is planning to host Chinese President Xi Jinping for a summit at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
On March 30, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang announced at a daily press briefing that the summit meeting is scheduled on April 6-7.
Donald Trump's controversial stance on China as well as rising tensions in the Asia-Pacific region due to the increased North Korean nuclear threat have created an uncertain backdrop for what would be the first meeting between the two leaders.
While the North Korean security challenge is likely to feature during the summit, as will issues surrounding the South China Sea, both presidents will undoubtedly be focusing on trade as a central topic for discussion.
Writing for CNN, Jeremy Diamond reminds his readers that one of the central tenets of Trump's agenda moving forward is recalibrating U.S. trade relationships. Trump has made his feelings about China known, repeatedly turning to twitter to rail against the country's "unfair" practices.
In light of Trump's particular brand of "twit-diplomacy" and otherwise unpredictable nature, a number of writers have focused on the strong personality of both presidents, highlighting perhaps the biggest question mark surrounding the summit.
How will the two leaders receive each other?
Wang Xiangwei, the former editor-in-chief of the South China Morning Post (SCMP), believes that the establishment of a strong personal connection between the two leaders is paramount in enhancing the strategic mutual trust between China and the United States amid increased challenges.
According to SCMP, Liu Weidong, a U.S. foreign affairs observer from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, maintains, "Trump said he appreciates a strong man … and Xi is a strong man. Trump appreciates Xi's style as a hardliner in domestic issues," hinting that there's a chance the two leaders might hit it off.
The two presidents may, in fact, share a similar respect for political fortitude. However, they remain fundamentally at odds when it comes to ideology, temperament and style.
It would be fortuitous, therefore, if personalities could perhaps take a backseat to the reality of what's at stake, given the rising tensions between China and the U.S., and the two leaders manage to foster any friendship or personal connection at the upcoming summit.
Signs that Xi Jinping is acknowledging this necessity have already begun to show.
According to President Xi, he and Donald Trump "reached consensus and understanding to enhance exchanges."Xi believes cooperation between the U.S. and China is the only correct option, adding, "We should properly handle and manage sensitive issues to promote the healthy and stable development of the Sino-U.S. relationship from a new start."
Harking back to the friendly and relaxed relationship between President Xi and President Obama, Wang Xiangwei notes that while "U.S. officials proposed Sunnylands in 2013, it was China that reportedly pushed for an invitation to Trump's private resort."
This is both an acknowledgement that the relaxed relationship enjoyed by President Xi and Obama was an important step forward for Sino-U.S. ties that either country should revisit and perhaps an intelligent act of political clairvoyance.
At the moment, Trump is something of a wounded animal, politically speaking. Recent failures such as the death of the American Health Care Act and the ongoing investigation of Trump's ties to Russia are not only casting a heavy shadow, they're coming to define his early presidency.
Xi can offer a commitment to mutually beneficial relations, a strong personal connection and perhaps a way for the tenderfoot U.S. President and his administration to move forward. It just may be the "new start" Trump is looking for, and a way for President Xi to help personally shape the future trends of Sino-U.S. relations.
Having previously lived in Beijing working as a journalist and editor, Kyle Calandra is currently based in America reporting on Sino-U.S. Relations as a contributor for China.org.cn.
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
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