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I am old enough to remember when President Nixon went to China in 1972. Even though our family hated Nixon, that trip was a big deal because no US president had visited China before. It was confusing to a young person, that we could dislike a president so much and then watch the media praise him. But it was somewhat hopeful at a time when the world seemed so frightening.
Trump’s trip to China is not confusing, it seems blatently opportunistic. I am not an historian of presidential visits to China, but I am sure visits like this are always opportunistic. But in Trump’s case, it seems more obvious: he has clearly gotten himself into a global mess and is looking for ways out. He has lost the support all our allies, and so now is friendly —and not in a peace/diplomacy way— with Russia and China. Trump is all about the short term here; Xi Jinping is about the long term. Ironically, China seems to be the stable power and very much on the move upwards (I do not mean human rights). We are declining, and Xi knows it.
Both countries want business deals in tech, trade and AI. US support of Taiwan is the only card we hold. We shall see what happens today, but I am not expecting much. It would be horrifying if Trump gave up Taiwan. Can he do that?
Trump’s form of diplomacy is to “make friends” with male leaders, schmooze with them; it makes him feel like he’s acheived something. This won’t work with Xi, I cannot imagine Xi playing that game the way Putin has. Both men—Putin and Xi- are probably laughing at Trump behind his back.
In fact at the very outset of the summit, amidst all the pagentry (children waving flags and cheering Trump) and warm sentiment (Trump called Xi a “great leader”), Xi warned Trump on Taiwan.
“If handled poorly, the two countries will collide or even clash, putting the entire U.S.-China relationship in an extremely dangerous situation,” Xi said while referring to Taiwan, according to a readout from Xinhua, China’s official news agency.
Trump is looking for a powerful ally in his Iran war. Chinese media reported that “the Middle East” was discussed this morning. The US readout of the meeting reported: “Both countries agreed that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.” But the Chinese state media’s summary of the meeting did not mention Iran’s nuclear program or the Strait of Hormuz. Trump is trying to force his narratives and excuses for the war and/or China is not playing along.
Speaking of which, there was a video circulating yesterday which highlights Trump’s lack of understanding of the damage he is doing as he attempts to justify the incredibly costly war he started.
David Pierson of the NY Times reports that during a tour of the Temple of Heaven, Xi took the opportunity to “enlighten Trump about Chinese philosophy and the Communist Party’s role in preserving it. Xi told Trump that ancient Chinese rulers held sacrificial ceremonies at the 600-year-old site to pray for national prosperity, peace and favorable weather.”
“The Communist Party of China inherits and develops this people-centered philosophy of Chinese civilization,” Xi said. He has a penchant for extolling the splendor of Chinese history and culture in the presence of other world leaders as a way to legitimize the party’s rule and push back against Western pressure.”
This is the kind of leadership Trump adores and aspires to: power and complete control over people. Xi knows this and is attempting to exploit it, pandering to Trump’s ego. He said “The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again can go hand in hand.”
They did not discuss human rights.
It was primarily white men and no women among the contingent accompanying Trump to China. Lots of CEOs.
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I traveled to Beijing and a few other cities in China in 2019 as part of a speaking tour about cartoons and women’s rights, and I was fortunate to go to the USSR and Eastern Europe in 1976 as a college student to study politics and art. Much has changed, yet much has stayed the same. I am embarassed by our president and worried about the alliance of these three powers. With Trump as our president, I have little hope for dimplomacy that has any meaning other than money for Trump and the wealthy.
Here is a piece I wrote about my trip to China, and all of the drawings I did during that visit: Drawing In China.
And here are some drawings I did on my iPhone with my finger on the street.