Trump says US ties improve as Xi warns over Taiwan
SkimNews Take
Public displays of diplomatic warmth can mask substantial policy disagreements, allowing leaders to project stability while fundamental differences persist.
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- Trump posted on social media that Xi Jinping congratulated him on his “tremendous successes” and that Xi only referenced President Biden when calling the United States a “declining nation.”
- Xi greeted Trump at Zhongnanhai, gave him a walk through the historic gardens, and promised to send rose seeds after Trump praised the roses as the most beautiful he’d ever seen.
- Both leaders held a state dinner at the Great Hall of the People, raised a toast, and then met with aides over tea and a working lunch before Trump’s departure for Washington.
- Xi warned that a mishandling of Taiwan could lead to “clashes and even conflicts” between the two powers, highlighting the most flashpoint in the relationship.
- Beijing has shown little public interest in U.S. proposals to help resolve the Iran conflict, despite Trump’s claim that Xi offered assistance, and the United States continues to press China to curb the flow of precursor chemicals used in illicit fentanyl production.
Why it matters: U.S. law‑enforcement agencies gain a stronger diplomatic push to curb Mexican fentanyl, while Chinese chemical exporters risk tighter scrutiny; the Taiwan warning signals a flashpoint that threatens any further economic rapprochement.
