US-China Summit: Concessions to Probe?

(Baonghean) - Last week, the event that received special attention from the international public was the US-China summit in the US, during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Contrary to public concerns, the meeting took place peacefully with many declarations of determination to cooperate. Behind these beautiful words, is the US-China relationship really improving?

Putting aside differences

Right before the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the US, many opinions said that the meetings would certainly be tense and full of disagreements. It is not difficult to understand that the US and China have had many problems between the two sides, from economic and trade issues, employment to international political records; the latest is the issue of climate change with the recent decree of President Donald Trump. Not only that, international newspapers also commented that it is difficult to imagine how big a difference there is in terms of people and policies between the two US and Chinese leaders.

The summit between the two US and Chinese leaders last week in Florida could not shape bilateral relations in the coming time. Source: Reuters

Accordingly, Mr. Xi Jinping is known as a politician with an extremely cautious approach, adhering to strict procedures. He is also always secretive about his private life and rarely reveals core messages in public statements.

On the contrary, Mr. Trump is a wealthy billionaire and his personal life is always a hot topic for newspapers. One rare thing that the two leaders have in common is nationalism and the desire to restore the country's position. However, this commonality is the factor that pushes the two sides further apart.

With such huge differences, it seemed that the US-China summit would be overshadowed, but the results were not as expected. The atmosphere of the meetings was very cheerful, Mr. Trump also did not put Mr. Xi Jinping in an awkward position of “not shaking hands” like in the recent meeting with German Chancellor Merkel.

Not only that, a series of beautiful words were spoken by both sides. While US President Donald Trump praised the "great progress" in the relationship between the two countries, Chinese President Xi Jinping affirmed that the two countries are making efforts to promote understanding and build trust. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson also said that Mr. Trump had accepted Mr. Xi Jinping's invitation to officially visit China in the near future.

Shaking hands and bombing

Of course, everyone understands that behind the beautiful words that the Chinese and American leaders use for each other are many strategic calculations. On the Chinese side, right before the visit, many observers believed that Xi Jinping would make some small concessions to President Trump and on the surface would mark a successful summit.

According to analysts, this will be a necessary concession by the Chinese President to create a public diplomatic victory for Mr. Trump, who is failing with domestic policies such as the health care program. In fact, according to assessments, this will be a "strategic step back" by the Chinese President to stabilize relations with the new administration in the US, as well as prepare for the important party congress that will take place later this year.

US President Donald Trump (left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) walk on the grounds of the Mar-a-Lago resort after their bilateral meeting on April 7. Source: Reuters

Meanwhile, on the US side, Mr. Trump must have been very happy to respond to China’s concessions, because he also wanted to make a first diplomatic impression in the eyes of voters. “Let’s yield together, win together” can be said to have become the common spirit for the Chinese President’s visit to the US last week.

However, Mr. Trump, in his “winning streak,” made a surprising decision to attack Syria with Tomahawk cruise missiles. The US President’s decision, though considered hasty and ill-considered, seemed to be a message that Mr. Trump wanted to send to the Chinese President and North Korea regarding the nuclear program and missile tests of this country. It showed a tough US President on the North Korean issue not only in words but also in actions.

Waiting status

The public was expecting a new shape after the US-China summit last week, but in reality this is not easy. It may have been a smooth start, but a series of barriers between the two sides still exist. The Chinese President must have also understood the implicit message that the US President sent on the North Korea issue through the attack on Syria.

This will certainly be a thorny issue that both sides will have to face in the coming time. In addition, the issue of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system located in South Korea is also a thorn that China cannot "give in".

Not only that, the number 1 economy of the US with the determination to "make America great again" of Mr. Trump will certainly not give up the strategy of fierce competition with China. President Trump has so far maintained his stance of condemning China's trade activities and believes that these activities are reducing American jobs. Mr. Trump has also pledged to voters to impose a 45% tax on Chinese imports as well as cut the trade deficit of 347 billion USD from this country. Of course, experts say that it will be difficult to have a US-China trade war, but tensions will certainly occur.

China is currently heading towards an important party congress at the end of the year, while the US government is also struggling with domestic issues, especially the division within the ruling elite. In such a context, the US-China relationship can be said to be in a “waiting state” until the end of this year without being able to take a clear shape.

Phuong Hoa