America unilaterally announced the visit in a high-profile manner, but Beijing did not respond, and it definitely won't indulge him! White House officials have confirmed that President Trump will visit China from March 31 to April 2nd. He also said he is looking forward to our welcoming ceremony, which might be his overestimation! Up to now, China has not responded to this matter.
On March 20th local time, the White House announced in the press room that Trump would visit China from March 31 to April 2nd. Officials mentioned the schedule, the meeting with senior Chinese leaders in Shanghai, and the expectation of a military parade and light show. Trump tweeted, showing a photo of him waving on the steps of Air Force One with the Washington Monument in the background. The post mentioned discussing trade balance and expecting a warm reception from China. In an internal White House meeting, Trump looked at the schedule and ordered coordination, even though China had not officially invited him. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Beijing, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry was facing the microphone and notebook during a press conference. When a reporter asked about the White House statement, he stood by the podium and replied that there was currently no information. The venue remained calm, and the reporters took notes.
Several days later, the White House released a message that Trump might visit the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. Social media shared a video showing him waving after stepping off the plane. However, China remained silent, and there were no signs of preparations for the visit at the foreign affairs department. Trump's team contacted by phone and email, and the other side gave a diplomatic response, but no substantial progress was made. In the Rose Garden of the White House, Trump walked around and complained about China's delay. He pointed to Capitol Hill, saying he wanted a high-level reception, like when he was invited to visit China in 2017, with a special car and military parade and light show. However, this time the White House bypassed negotiations and directly announced it, putting pressure on China through the media. On the streets of Beijing, citizens went about their daily lives, and newsstands had small sections of the news without much discussion.
In this incident, the U.S. was highly visible. White House officials confirmed the date, and Trump expressed his expectation of a welcoming ceremony. However, at a press conference on February 24, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning stated that communication between China and the U.S. regarding Trump's visit to China was ongoing, but no specific information was shared. This shows that Beijing is not in a hurry to confirm and remains cautious. American media reported that this visit was initiated by Beijing, but the White House announced it first, which seemed unilateral.
With the background of trade tensions, Trump's second term imposed additional tariffs, and the Supreme Court ruled on February 20 that the tariffs were illegal, weakening the U.S. leverage. Before the visit, Trump said he wanted to make the biggest display in history, but the lack of response from China reflects its diplomatic independence. The 2017 visit was a high-level reception after negotiation, but this time is different. The U.S. wants to use public opinion to pressure China, but Beijing does not indulge in such tactics and requires bilateral negotiations. Currently, China has not officially responded, and the itinerary remains uncertain.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1858107079902208/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.