Trump Just Gave China’s President Exactly What He Wanted

The summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping has concluded with neither side achieving their stated objectives. Yet, upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that Trump inadvertently handed Xi a significant victory.

Trump’s decision not to make concessions on Taiwan was seen as a relief by some, but it was more a case of him failing to deliver on his promises than any grand strategic shift. The only tangible outcome from the summit was Xi’s agreement to purchase 200 Boeing jet planes – a deal that sent Boeing’s stock plummeting due to its perceived underwhelming nature.

The real story here is not about what Trump and Xi agreed upon, but rather how they fundamentally misunderstand each other’s goals. Trump views himself as a corporate savior, capable of “opening up” China to the West through his deal-making prowess. This reflects a stunning misreading of Xi’s vision for China’s place in the world – one that is firmly rooted in its own ambitions and not beholden to Western interests.

Xi, on the other hand, sees Trump as a declining empire, desperately clinging to his former status as a global leader. He has no interest in “opening up” China to corporate America; instead, he wants to exploit their technical secrets for China’s own gain. This was evident in Trump’s glowing praise of Xi throughout the summit – a move that reinforced Xi’s goal of solidifying China’s standing as a peer power.

The implications of this dynamic on the global stage are far-reaching. The recent Iran war has likely vindicated China’s strategy in any potential future conflict – one that would involve firing swarms of drones and missiles at US warships, overwhelming their defenses.

Despite the numerous issues dividing the two countries, the summit barely addressed them. Xi brought up the fate of Taiwan first, using the opportunity to reinforce his country’s stance on the issue – one that sees Taiwan as an integral part of China and not a separate entity. This reflects a worrying trend of increasing tensions in the region.

The lack of clarity on key issues like trade and security cooperation is also telling. The two sides released widely differing “readouts” of their discussions, highlighting a fundamental disconnect between their approaches to these issues. And what about China’s support for Russia’s war against Ukraine? This was conspicuous by its absence from any official statements.

As the US and China continue down this fraught path, it becomes clear that neither side has a deep understanding of each other’s motivations. Trump’s praise of Xi as a “great leader” and “really a friend” only served to reinforce his own misreading of the situation – one that is likely to have far-reaching consequences for global stability.

The corporate sideshow surrounding this summit was also notable, with Trump inviting some of the biggest names in business to make deals with China. However, no significant agreements were reached – a fact that is more likely due to Xi’s reluctance than any lack of enthusiasm from the corporate side.

Trump framed these executives’ invitation as an opportunity for them to “work their magic” and bring China to new heights. This reflects a staggering naivety about the nature of this partnership, one that sees the US as some sort of guiding light rather than a declining empire in need of guidance.

The fate of Taiwan remains a contentious issue, with the US observing a policy of strategic ambiguity on the matter. Trump’s decision to put off signing an arms sales package to Taiwan has raised eyebrows, particularly given his subsequent claims that he and Xi discussed the issue – only for him to say he would decide in the coming days whether to go through with it.

This reflects a worrying trend of increasing tensions between the US and China on this issue. The fact that Trump’s decision will likely be guided by his own political considerations rather than any genuine concern for Taiwan’s survival is telling – particularly given the strong bipartisan support for the island’s defense in Congress.

The recent Iran war has also had far-reaching implications for global security, particularly when it comes to China’s strategy in any potential future conflict. The use of swarms of drones and missiles against US warships is a worrying trend that reflects China’s own military shortcomings – but one that may be vindicated by the outcome of the Iran war.

This has significant implications for regional stability, with the US’s own military failures serving to reinforce China’s approach to warfare. As we look ahead, it becomes clear that the stakes are high and the risks are real – particularly when it comes to any future conflict in the Taiwan Strait or elsewhere in Asia.