US President Donald Trump’s historic visit to China comes at a time when the Iranian war is disrupting global energy supplies, increasing economic uncertainty and adding new tension to relations between Washington and Beijing. In the last part of series By examining how competition, interdependence, and geopolitical crises are reshaping the relationship between the two powers, we look at how Trump’s weak hand could impact the summit talks.
When the summit is held next week between US President… Donald Trump And the Chinese president Xi Jinping When it was first proposed, Trump performed relatively well and Xi held his ground in the face of his reckless counterpart.
Six months later, Trump heads to Beijing, which is politically influenced and militarily stretched, factors that diplomatic experts believe are… China Analysts and former government officials say this will determine the course of the meeting.
While summits are mostly about foreign policy, protocol and results, dynamics at home support the negotiations.
“There is no doubt that weakness on the home front puts the president in a precarious position on the global stage, especially when dealing with a leader like Xi Jinping,” said Brett Bruin, former director of global engagement at the White House. “He not only feels that weakness, he works to exploit it.”
“China has been trying to position itself as a more rational player among the global great powers. So this is the key moment for it to try to manipulate and outmaneuver the other.”
Traditionally, potential vulnerabilities are identified in comprehensive briefing materials prior to high-stakes meetings. Trump is not a traditionalist and tends to favor his “gut,” although power dynamics are not lost on him, even if he does not acknowledge them.
