Trump Leaves China After Talks Dominated by Trade, Oil, and Taiwan

The pomp and circumstance surrounding Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing may have made for a visually stunning spectacle, but beneath the surface lies a more nuanced reality. The two-day talks with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping were dominated by trade, oil, and Taiwan – issues that have left many questioning what tangible agreements were actually reached.

One aspect that gained some traction was the purported agreement on “strategic stability” as a framework for the next three years. However, this lofty-sounding phrase is worryingly vague, especially given the history of unfulfilled promises in Sino-US relations. Ryan Fedasiuk, a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, noted that it’s unclear which deals will be deemed “ripe enough” to see through – and what exactly constitutes “strategic stability” remains an enigma.

Trump touted China’s commitment to buying US oil and 200 airplanes from Boeing as significant developments on Fox News. While these are undoubtedly welcome for American business interests, they raise questions about the long-term sustainability of such arrangements. For instance, how will these purchases impact the global market, particularly in light of rising tensions with Iran? The answers were conveniently left unspoken.

The invitation extended to Xi Jinping to visit the White House on September 24 has been touted as a significant breakthrough – but one that’s yet to be confirmed by Chinese officials. Even if it materializes, what exactly will this achieve beyond further cementing the diplomatic dance between the two nations? Will it mark a genuine shift in Beijing’s stance on trade and security issues, or merely serve as a photo opportunity for both leaders?

Hai Zhao, director of international political studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, offered insight into the possible itinerary for Xi’s visit. A state visit to Washington, D.C., is all but certain, given Trump’s own official state visit to China earlier this year. However, it’s also possible that Xi could travel to New York first – a prospect that would coincide with the United Nations General Assembly scheduled for early September.

The coming weeks and months will be crucial in determining whether any meaningful progress was made during the Beijing summit. The APEC meeting in Shenzhen in November and the G20 gathering in Florida in December offer potential opportunities for further dialogue, but these too will be subject to the same vagaries of diplomacy that have characterized Sino-US relations for so long.

Ultimately, it’s hard not to be reminded of the countless empty promises that have come before – the hastily announced trade agreements that never materialized, the grandiose declarations of cooperation that were later revealed as hollow. In the end, Trump’s visit to Beijing may turn out to be little more than a carefully choreographed dance of words and gestures, rather than a genuine attempt at resetting the US-China relationship.

As the next chapter in this ongoing saga unfolds, one thing is certain: only time will tell whether any of these promises – or even the agreement on “strategic stability” itself – amount to anything more than just a cleverly crafted illusion.