It is only natural that US President Donald Trump’s two-day visit to China garnered global attention. This is the first time a US president has visited China after a gap of nine years. A meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping, the leaders of the world’s two biggest superpowers, carries significance in its own right — especially considering the current West Asian conflict and the resulting global trade and economic crises. The two countries rank first and second in terms of economic size. Although China attached importance to this visit comparable to Richard Nixon’s meeting with Zhou Enlai during the unexpected thaw in 1972, the visit has not produced results of that magnitude. Trump’s critics point out that his interest in meeting rulers who exhibit authoritarian tendencies similar to his own, and his eagerness to demonstrate that foreign superpowers accord him a reception greater than the acceptance he receives in his own country, lie behind the visit. Moreover, US leaders no longer raise issues concerning the lack of human rights, democracy, or freedom of expression in China, matters that previous American presidents routinely brought up. Trump, too, did not utter a word about them. Consequently, there is an observation that, compared to former American presidents, Trump is someone with whom China is more interested in engaging. It was no different during this visit. Neither the brutal persecution of the Uyghur Muslim minority nor the comparatively less severe measures against certain Christian groups became subjects of discussion during the visit. China’s response to all such criticisms is that no country should interfere in the internal affairs of another, and that China itself never does so.
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Although there were calculations that Trump would try to align China with the American stance on the West Asian war — or at least induce China to remain silent regarding the American position — no such moves have taken place. China has strong trade ties with Iran; it purchases the majority of Iran’s oil exports. Therefore, China is also interested in lifting the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Otherwise, it would have to pay a very high price for imported oil. However, it must be understood that China did not display the kind of urgency in this matter that America had expected. It is difficult to fully believe Trump’s claim that the two countries have initiated some magnificent trade agreements. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that the emphasis of the China visit was on the trade sector. An indication of this was the presence in Trump’s delegation of the heads of 17 of America’s most prominent companies, including Tesla chief Elon Musk and Apple chief Tim Cook. The trade tensions that arose after China took retaliatory measures in response to the tariff war initiated by Trump last year have subsided slightly, as US tariffs have been suspended until November this year. The sanctions on the purchase of Russian oil have also been frozen until November. Recognising that a resurgence of the issue would drain both countries, both sides indeed sought avenues of cooperation. Chinese spokespersons highlight that the trade teams of both nations have formed a joint trade board and an investment board, thereby initiating mechanisms through which the two countries can gain mutual market access. However, Trump has clarified that they did not discuss tariffs at all. The fact that neither side claims victory over the other should be seen as a sign of mutual appeasement.
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Even while ensuring that they do not displease each other, the two countries fundamentally disagree on most international issues. The US wants China to stop buying Iranian oil. China criticises the US stance aimed at destabilising Cuba, as well as the American incursion into Venezuela to detain President Maduro. On the Ukraine issue, the two countries stand at opposite poles, even though China showed a slight softening by abstaining from UN resolutions on the matter. It is also true that Trump does not possess the same level of pro-Ukraine enthusiasm as Biden.
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However, the most intense issue is Taiwan. Beijing claims that Taiwan, the island nation neighbouring China that came into existence in 1949, is a part of China. Accordingly, naval manoeuvres aimed at capturing it had also been initiated. Even today, most observers believe it is only a matter of time. However, America is not reacting to the issue today in as aggressive a tone as before. In the context of this visit, China itself is quoting certain remarks made by Trump. The essence of those remarks is that he is not presently thinking about travelling 9,500 miles away to help preserve another country’s independence. Angering China on this matter would mean a war engulfing the entire region. It must be assumed that America today possesses neither the readiness nor the strength for such a conflict.