American Professor: Mr. Trump is a President who loves to be 'flattered'

(Baonghean.vn) - US President Donald Trump will soon visit China, amid rising threats of conflict on the Korean Peninsula, and Americans are currently thinking about the imbalance in the economic relationship between Washington and Beijing as well as military instability in the Asian region.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany, in July 2017. Photo: AP

Professor David M. Lampton, Director of the China Studies Program at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (USA), is concerned that Mr. Trump will come to China and “will encounter” a powerful leader with strategic vision.

The concern is that an inexperienced US president, with little understanding of China and leading a foreign policy team that has been in flux for the past 10 months alone, will go to China to talk to a veteran, and continue to be trusted as China's top leader.

The funny thing is that Mr. Trump is a president who loves to be “flattered,” and China knows how to flatter him. However, according to expert Lampton, this is an important and appropriate time for President Trump to visit China.

Because under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, Beijing aims to achieve a significant and comprehensive position both in and outside the region. Washington and Beijing need a serious, strategic discussion. However, this discussion is unlikely to discuss current pressing issues.

On the trade issue, President Xi may be able to “tactfully” not give in to Trump’s demands, as the US leader may have demonstrated his negotiating skills but so far there have been no significant results.

As for the North Korea issue, over the past two decades, Beijing has shown that it will accept living with a nuclear-armed North Korea.

It is possible that the leaders of China and the United States will agree to further tighten sanctions on Pyongyang, but many experts predict that there will be no significant changes unless President Trump loses patience and chooses the military option. That would be a disaster.

So hold your breath for this highly anticipated visit. America may not get the best, but let's hope it avoids the worst./.

Lan Ha

(According to SCMP)