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The Chinese authorities are in no hurry to agree on a summit between the US and Chinese presidents, as they remain concerned about Donald Trump’s unexpected decisions on tariffs, Ukraine and other international issues. This was reported by The New York Times.
Although the Trump administration is actively trying to arrange a meeting with Xi Jinping, Beijing is taking a wait-and-see attitude. Chinese officials and experts point to Trump’s abrupt moves on trade, relations with allies, and his unpredictable rhetoric, particularly towards Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Republican Senator Steve Daines, who visited Beijing in March, tried to prepare the ground for the summit, but the Chinese side is in no hurry to confirm its possibility in 2024.
Amid trade disputes, China has already begun to respond to US actions. Beijing has stopped importing $1 billion worth of US beef a year and is dissatisfied with the new duties imposed by Trump.
At the same time, Washington is stepping up its anti-Chinese policy. The US Department of Defence has named Beijing as the main threat and has focused on deterring China in the Indo-Pacific region.
Despite the tensions, analysts do not rule out that a meeting between Trump and Xi could take place in September on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. However, so far, both sides have not shown any willingness to make serious concessions.
