In an article titled “How the Trump-Xi meeting became ‘the shrinking summit’,” Politico US Website indicated that the US President Donald Trump is arriving in Beijing in a role that he isn’t used to — a supplicant asking for favors.
The article affirmed that all the topics on Trump-Xi meeting agenda, mainly trade and Iran war, lie in areas where the US administration has had little luck getting deals or concessions from China.
“That means Trump will be hard-pressed to deliver the big outcomes he has promised for weeks. Trump pitched the meeting as “a Monumental Event” in March and announced on Truth Social last month that he expects nothing less than a ‘big fat hug’ from Xi.”
The article also highlighted Trump’s hesitation on Iran, mentioning how he said on Monday that the war would be on the agenda before denying that later.
“It’s the shrinking summit,” said Zack Cooper, a former assistant to the deputy national security adviser in the George W. Bush administration, who regularly meets with administration and Chinese officials. “It’s pretty clear the Trump team is in a very difficult position and it’s very possible Trump goes to Beijing preoccupied and weakened.”
Meanwhile, Washington’s massive weapons deal with Taiwan has intensified tensions, drawing strong condemnation from China over interference in its domestic affairs.
China reiterated its strong opposition to the United States over its expanding military support for Taiwan on Wednesday, warning Washington to respect its longstanding commitments under the “One China” policy.
Trump is in Beijing from May 13 to 15 for a state visit, the first by a US president since 2017, when Trump himself met Xi Jinping during his first term.
Source: Websites