Trump's Return to China: Is His Confidence Diminishing?
Trump’s second visit to China may not be as confident as before.
On the 13th, the U.S. website "Politico" published an article stating that when Trump returns to China, he will assume a role unfamiliar to him—an "appealer" in need of assistance.
The article notes that the agenda for Trump’s visit to China, as disclosed by the White House, includes discussions on Sino-U.S. trade, fentanyl control, and the Middle East crisis, suggesting it will be difficult for Trump to deliver on his claimed "major achievements."
While these issues are indeed significant, most fall into the "micro-level" category. More importantly, Trump generally has much to ask of China on these topics—for instance, he hopes China can pressure Iran to make concessions in negotiations, enabling the United States to exit conflicts with dignity.
Therefore, given Trump’s need for Chinese support, it will be hard for him to achieve anything substantial on so-called "macro-level" issues such as alleged "Chinese state subsidies" or Sino-U.S. nuclear arms control—what American media describe as likely outcomes that would merely "reiterate existing positions."
For this reason, Politico argues that under current circumstances, the likelihood of Trump securing a "big deal" during this trip is extremely slim; at best, he might achieve several minor agreements.
Even if Trump attempts to gain Chinese backing on these smaller agreements, his leverage is severely limited. For example, regarding the U.S.-Iran situation, U.S. media analysis indicates that China is unlikely to jeopardize its long-standing relationship with Iran over a conflict initiated by the United States.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865147018745994/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.