PRESIDENT Donald Trump may be met with a toned-down welcome as he visits China for the first time during his second presidency.
China will likely with a less extravagant entrance compared to his
Donald Trump is traveling to China where he is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping Credit: Getty
The US President boarding Air Force One on Tuesday at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland Credit: Getty
Trump is set to land in Beijing on Wednesday for a state visit with Xi Jinping amid his ongoing war with Iran.
The tense conflict overseas has caused a dilemma, Robert Sutter, a professor of practice of international affairs at George Washington University, told The U.S. Sun, as China risks losing Iran as a key ally if they appear too friendly with the US.
“It seems to me that they have to be careful. Iran is a strategic partner of China, and China is the biggest buyer of Iran’s oil,” Sutter explained.
“So they can’t send a message to the world that they love President Trump, even though he’s doing these kinds of things.”
Trump previously visited China during his first term as president where he received “extraordinary treatment” with all kinds of events held in the Forbidden City, according to Sutter.
“They really bent over backwards to be very cordial and wonderful in the visit.”
Now, the professor explained, the situation is fluid as Trump said on Monday the ceasefire with Iran is “on life support” and “unbelievably weak.”
“But for China’s side, Iran and the whole situation in Hormuz and so forth is hurting all sorts of countries in the world,” he said.
“China likes to take advantage of this to show that the United States is a cause of these kinds of problems. But they have to be very careful in doing that.
“Of course, they want to have a decent relationship with President Trump as well. So they’re balancing these kinds of things.
“The point I’m trying to make here is that they might not be as outgoing, and they might not go to such lengths to show a luxurious, wonderful, glamorous trip for Mr. Trump in China at this time, given the international circumstances.”
Sutter said he wonders if Trump will make concessions, which comes after reports said China had been expanding its economic pressure toolkit, on everything from tariffs to Taiwan to AI, before Trump’s expected visit.
Donald Trump’s visit to China is expected to be less extravagant than his 2017 trip, an expert has said Credit: AP
Trump and Xi bring greeted by children waving flowers and flags during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, 2017 Credit: AP
“The Chinese are, of all the great powers in the world, the most inclined to use leverage whenever they have it. So, sure, that’s to be expected,” Sutter said.
“Where can they agree then, I think, is the question. Will Mr. Trump make concessions? I think you’re going to have a situation where, on the economic issues, they have been talking ahead of time.”
Sutter doesn’t expect much from the meeting, but anticipates the two nations to come to an agreement on what to do about
“The Chinese side wants a result that will stabilize the relationship and provide a strategic framework for future relations so this will remain under control. That will involve certain concessions, and Taiwan could be one, and there are many others that you can think of.”
China has never governed Taiwan, but still sees the island as a breakaway territory that must be unified with the mainland, according to the Council of Foreign Relations.
Since 2016, Beijing has ramped up its military and political pressure on Taipei, a northern part of Taiwan and in his second term, Trump has levied tariffs on both China and Taiwan while attempting an $11billion arms deal with Taipei.
Sutter said , but he warned Trump faces “risks tremendous blowback” as he could be met with backlash back home.
“They want to be seen as making progress toward the reunification of Taiwan, which is a very important objective of the Chinese government,” he explained.
“They see Taiwan as absolutely essential in the United States’ ability to counter the challenges coming from China. So if that were to happen, the Democrats would be outraged, for sure, particularly in Congress, and they would voice it very strongly.
“Some Republicans would join them, because these Republicans have been looking at China for eight years now, and they continue to be very tough on China.
“The record of Congress in the last eight years has been quite consistent in seeing this as a fundamental danger to the United States, and Taiwan being essential in that competition.”
“But the US side has not been negotiating with them on this issue. There haven’t been any big preparatory talks,” Sutter said.
“The Chinese, when they do this, they want to have long talks with all sorts of officials working it out on their end. They have their agenda worked out. But Trump’s not going to do it, I don’t think.”
Sutter revealed he doesn’t believe Trump will hold talks because he operates in a way to remain unpredictable.
“And he’s been preoccupied with a very bad situation in the Persian Gulf. This is serious, and it has very negative impacts on his approval rating in the country,” Sutter added.
“He’s got a lot of preoccupations. The administration just isn’t systematic like this. They just don’t do this very much.”
The expert says China must balance appearing friendly with the US against potentially alienating Iran, a strategic partner and oil buyer Credit: AP:Associated Press
Trump and U.S. first lady Melania visiting the Forbidden City with President Xi Jinping and China’s First Lady Peng Liyuan in Beijing, 2017 Credit: Reuters
Eze Chidiebere Paul
I'm dedicated to creating high-quality content that informs, inspires, and delights. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Happy reading!
