President Trump pulled out all the pageantry pieces he had in the game of global diplomacy for the visit by China’s Xi Jinping, but underlying it all was the goal of his guest to extract further concessions from Trump toward China’s acquisition of the breakaway republic of Taiwan.
In their private, pre-gala-dinner talk, Xi warned Trump to “adhere to the correct position of opposing Taiwan independence,” according to news reports from China. He also cautioned the president again about the “the Thucydides trap,” whereby the world’s leading power ends up going to war with its main challenger.
Recall that, during his visit with Xi in October, Trump put on hold an arms sale to Taiwan when the Chinese President initially warned him that independence for the island-nation was a no-go in U.S.-China relations. What will Trump do this time? Give Taiwan away if Xi can convince Iran to sign a peace deal?
The two-leader discussion preceding the state dinner resulted in no details being released by the White House. Most U.S. reporters and analysts concluded that little was concretely achieved, though the two leaders did evidently agree to extend a trade truce until January.
In my way of viewing all this, the pomp and pageantry were an effort by Trump to outdo what Xi did on Trump’s visit. It was also, starting with the red-carpet greeting at the airport, Trump’s way of displaying admiration for those with ultimate power, including not only Xi but also Vladimir Putin and, to some extent, North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. Ah, the sweet smell of dictatorship!
From what I read, Louisiana Senator John Kennedy had the best comment of the day when he observed:
“I think President Xi is a reptile. The president wants to work things out with him, and I admire that, and I wish him luck. But I’ve met President Xi…. This man thinks he’s on a mission from God except his god is himself.”
