Chinese President Xi Jinping looks well prepared to meet United States President Donald Trump later this week
hinese President Xi Jinping looks well prepared to meet United States President Donald Trump later this week. Although Trump has repeatedly threatened China, including on the issues of its trade deficit with the US and North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, the Chinese leader knows all too well that he only needs to console his host, who lacks the capacity to turn his bluff into action.
Trump can tweet anything he likes, but he should remember that confrontation with China and other major economies would do America more harm than good. Trump needs to realize that the US today is very different from what he may imagine.
In the past, the world used to closely follow any summit between American and Chinese leaders because of its impact on global trade and security. But now, the international community cares no more because it knows that the informal summit in Florida on Thursday will hardly impact world stability.
Last week, Trump signed an executive order as a short-cut solution to overcoming the US’ $500 billion annual trade deficit with major trading partners, including $300 billion with China and $13 billion with Indonesia. But Xi, who has proclaimed China a champion of free trade, has opted to stay cool amid Trump’s threat to wage a trade war between the world’s first- and second-largest economies.
To save Trump embarrassment, the Chinese leader will likely show an interest in buying more sophisticated products, such as Boeing airplanes.
Apart from trade and economic issues, Trump reportedly will also raise his concerns over North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who is bringing Pyongyang closer to full possession of nuclear arms. Trump has threatened to punish Kim with or without China’s help.
Given the US’ lack of power to launch military action to stop North Korea’s nuclear campaign, Xi will unlikely bow to his host’s demand for him to end China’s bid to control the South China Sea.
President Xi will surely treat his host very well, but will refrain from offering concessions, especially on political and security matters. The Florida summit is predicted to mark another diplomatic failure for Trump that will cost him domestically.
The upcoming summit unsurprisingly will be on the international radar because it involves the world’s largest economies and strongest military powers. One thing is sure, however, and that is Washington cannot take unilateral action like it often did in the past.
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