Donald Trump concluded his visit to China on Friday amidst overt friendliness from both sides, although the long-term implications for the two nations’ relationship remain unclear.
During the flight back on “Air Force One” Trump told accompanying journalists that he was unwilling to commit to a decision regarding the sale of $14 billion worth of new weapons to Taiwan following his meeting with Xi Jinping. Instead, he stated that China will purchase substantial amounts of U.S. products, including 200 Boeing aircraft and soybeans valued at billions of dollars.
Regarding the longstanding dispute over U.S.-China tariffs, Trump surprised reporters by claiming, “We did not discuss tariffs”.
On other diplomatic topics, Trump relayed several statements made by Xi. Xi reportedly commented that “America is the hottest country in the world” and additionally suggested that the U.S. has improved “miraculously” under Trump’s presidency. These claims were not initially confirmed or substantiated by the Chinese side.
Furthermore, Trump stated that Xi guaranteed that China would not supply Iran with military equipment. While China did not officially confirm this statement, it did clarify that it generally does not provide weapons to states involved in ongoing conflicts. According to Trump, Xi also offered assistance towards concluding the conflict with Iran. Both parties reportedly agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open.
In a separate discussion, China reaffirmed its position concerning Taiwan, with Xi warning that the issue is the most important and sensitive aspect of the bilateral relationship. Xi cautioned that if Taiwan is not “properly treated” conflicts between the two states could erupt.
