U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping appeared to put aside sources of tension between the two countries on the second day of a three-day visit to the United States, where they met with Trump and toured the White House.
The two superpowers have called for more dialogue despite differences over issues such as Iran, Taiwan, AI and trade, with President Trump praising himself and Xi on Thursday for a “great meeting.”
Recommended stories
list of 3 itemsend of list
“Since we were first elected in 2016, President Xi and I have had a friendly relationship. In fact, it’s a truly great friendship built on mutual respect and the vital interests of our people,” Trump said.
Here are some key takeaways from President Xi’s second day in the United States.
Emphasis on stable connections
When President Trump first returned to the White House, he announced tough tariffs on Chinese goods, warning that they would quickly spark a trade war between the world’s two largest economies and have broader repercussions around the world.
Despite this rocky start, Trump and Xi have sought to ease tensions and improve their personal relationship, even though there is an understanding that the core of their differences are unlikely to change.
U.S. presidents have sometimes spoken of China’s status as a rising power as a source of praise, even though these changes have exposed China to competition from the United States.
“It was a great meeting,” Trump told reporters Thursday, without providing further details.
President Xi said Thursday that the United States and China should take steps to avoid the “Thucydides Trap,” a term used by international relations scholars regarding the risk of conflict between emerging and established powers.
“It should not be a struggle to see who wins or loses, but a race to catch up with each other,” Xi said, adding that the two countries are deeply connected and should engage in “healthy” competition “kept within bounds.”
Iran war reaches a deadlock in visited destinations
Although Mr. Xi’s visit focuses on improving relations between President Trump and the United States, several issues are also at the center of discussions between the two leaders. One is the U.S. war against Iran, which began in February between the United States and Israel, leading to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and a spike in global energy prices.
President Trump called on China to support U.S. efforts to isolate Tehran economically and reopen the pre-war strait. The Chinese government, Iran’s largest trading partner, has been reluctant to get involved.
Thursday’s meeting between President Trump and President Xi Jinping reported no progress on the issue, with the Chinese president saying he supports the United States and Iran returning to an interim agreement that would have paved the way for a larger peace deal.
The ceasefire broke down shortly after it was announced in June.
The visit receives mixed reviews from U.S. lawmakers.
Xi’s visit to the United States has been marked by pomp and ceremony, but some Democratic and Republican lawmakers have complained that the spectacle amounts to a celebration of America’s rival.
Republican Sen. Roger Wicker said, “Frankly, if the White House had asked me for advice, given all the thorny issues that President Xi has with the Chinese Communist Party, I would have suggested to the president that he not invite Xi Jinping to Washington for such a lavish reception here in the United States.”
Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen offered similar criticism, saying Trump “always thinks he can get his way by co-opting authoritarians.”
Others described U.S.-China diplomacy as a positive move that could help both countries avoid a potentially disastrous conflict.
“I’m glad this meeting is taking place. Diplomacy is key,” Republican Sen. Rand Paul said in a social media post. “Let’s talk more and have fewer wars.”
President Xi urges President Trump not to recognize Taiwan’s independence
Relations between the United States and Taiwan, an autonomous island that China claims as part of its territory, remain a core flashpoint in the relationship.
During Thursday’s meeting, China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency reported that Xi opposed President Trump’s independence for Taiwan and urged him to deal with the issue “carefully.” The White House has not yet released a summary of the talks or remarks regarding Taiwan.
Chinese leaders are likely to continue to pressure Trump to avoid actions that Beijing deems provocative.
After his May meeting with Xi, President Trump said he was delaying final approval of a $14 billion arms package for Taipei, calling arms sales a “very good bargaining chip” with China.
This transactional approach has angered some in Washington, who see the U.S. military aid commitment to Taiwan as a core commitment.
However, the United States has long taken an expedient approach to relations with China and Taipei, seeking stronger ties with China’s emerging economic power and maintaining an official policy that encourages peaceful resolution of disputes without taking sides.
Taiwan has expressed concern that China may use both economic and military coercion to control the island.
An Economist/YouGov poll in May found that people in the United States are far more likely to view Taiwan as an ally than China. When asked whether the United States should prioritize good relations with China or prevent China from dominating Taiwan, respondents were split 36% to 35%.
Less than 40% of respondents said the United States should be prepared to use military force to prevent China from taking over Taiwan.
