Topline
President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping held a two-hour long summit meeting in Beijing on Thursday, which began with Trump heaping praise on Xi and calling “great leader,” while the Chinese president cautioned against mishandling the Taiwan issue while calling for greater cooperation between the two countries.
U.S. President Donald Trump, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Associated Press
Key Facts
Xi’s opening remarks at the summit mention that the world is in the midst of “turbulence and transformation,” and that the two countries must work together to “meet challenges and bring greater stability to the world.”
In his opening remarks, Trump lavished praise on Xi and said, “You’re a great leader. Sometimes people don’t like me saying it, but I say it anyway, because it’s true.”
After the closed-door summit began, Xi told Trump that Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory, could become a flashpoint between Beijing and Washington, the state-run Xinhua reported.
The Chinese leader said if the issue is handled properly, the ties between Beijing and Washington will “enjoy overall stability.”
However, a mishandling of the issue could lead to “clashes and even conflicts,” which could put the U.S.-China’s “entire relationship in great jeopardy.”
What Else Happened At The Summit Meeting?
Ahead of the meeting, Trump was greeted by Xi at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People after receiving a guard of honor from the Chinese military, a 21-gun salute and a group of children waving the two countries’ flags and flower bouquets. In his opening remarks Trump and highlighted the phone calls made to each other “whenever we had a problem we worked it out very quickly.” Trump then boasted about bringing the “greatest” and “biggest” business delegation with him. Trump claimed he asked “the top 30” business executives to join and “every single one of them said yes. And I didn’t want the second or third in the company, I wanted only the top.” The president added that the business leaders were here to “pay respects” to Xi and to China and the look forward to “doing trade and business.”
What Is The Thucydides Trap And Why Did Xi Mention It?
In his opening remarks, Xi asked if China and the U.S. will be able to overcome the “Thucydides Trap” and establish a new model for ties between two great powers. The phrase “Thucydides Trap” was popularized by Harvard professor and political scientist Graham Allison that draws a parallel between the U.S.—China rivalry and historical clash between Athens and Sparta. The theory suggests that the rapid rise of a emergent power—like China today and Athens in the past—can draw a established power—like the U.S. today or Sparta in the past—into an inevitable conflict. In an op-ed outlining this more than a decade and half ago, Allison urged leaders of both countries to talk to each other “much more candidly about likely confrontations and flash points,” and make “substantial adjustments to accommodate the irreducible requirements of the other.”
Tangent
According to Chinese state media, Xi warned that the concept of Taiwanese independence and regional peace are “as irreconcilable as fire and water.” Taiwan’s foreign ministry issued a response saying, “Beijing is the sole risk to regional peace and stability,” and the country plans to continue cooperation with the U.S. and other countries that “uphold freedom and democracy to ensure regional security and prosperity.”
What Did Xi Say About U.s.-China Trade Talks?
During the talks with Trump, Xi declared that positive China-U.S. economic ties are “mutually beneficial and win-win” according to state media. “Yesterday, our economic and trade teams produced generally balanced and positive outcomes. This is good news for the people of the two countries and the world,” Xi reportedly said without offering any specific details on issues like tariffs.
What Did Trump Say About The Meeting?
After the summit meeting, Trump and Xi visited the Temple of Heaven, a historic landmark in Beijing. Trump had a brief interaction with the White House pool at the location and said: “It’s great — a great place. Incredible. China is beautiful.” The president didn’t answer any questions about Taiwan.
What Has The White House Said About The Summit Meeting?
In a readout of the summit shared with various outlets, the White House said: “The two sides agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to support the free flow of energy.” Both Xi and and the Chinese foreign ministry have recently called for a resolution to the U.S.-Iran war and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which is used to transport 20% of the world’s oil. The White House also said that Trump discussed curbing the flow of chemicals used to produce fentanyl, expanded Chinese investments in the U.S. and the purchases of American farm products. An unnamed U.S. official, speaking anonymously also told the Associated Press that Xi expressed interest in buying U.S. oil to help reduce China’s dependence on energy from the Middle East.
Further Reading
Trump Lands In China For Crucial Meeting With Xi Jinping (Photos) (Forbes)
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