The Pivot - I
by Elena Mencacci and Carla Sartore
China - USA summit strikes an unexpected positive tone even after China’s president warning about Taiwan
From 13th to 15th May, the US President, Donald Trump, has visited Xi Jinping for the first time since the end of his first term nine years ago. During the summit, the two major powers stabilisedtheir conflictual relationship, focusing on issues such as tariffs, the situation in Iran, Taiwan and technological rivalry. Looking back to nine years later, the situation has changed significantly and the international context is no longer the same as in 2017.
The White House has described the visit as a summit of enormous symbolic significance. One of the most important topics was the trade truce, which aimed to prevent further escalations of tensions. A temporary one-year truce was declared in October. However, China’s response to the tariffs shocked Washington. Xi Jinping is looking forward to extending the truce, in order to guarantee more stability to an economy that is heavily dependent on exports. In return, he must be willing to commit to increasing purchases of American goods.
The Chinese interests in the Iran War
Regarding the conflict with Iran, there is a precise binary perspective. It should not be forgotten that China relies on the Strait of Hormuz for almost a half of its oil imports, hence the conflict has to be resolved bearing in mind its importance to Xi Jinping. US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent has urged China to increase its diplomatic efforts. Furthermore, Washington has sanctioned various Chinese companies for trading Iranian oil or providing support to the Islamic Republic’s military. However, Xi has firmly applied the so-called blocking statute, meaning the Chinese companies will not comply with the US sanctions.
Between partnership and rivalry
As we know, China’s leader warned President Trump on the matter of Taiwan as they prepared to meet this Thursday in Beijing stating that if the issue were to be mismanaged it could eventually lead to an undesirable and disruptive conflict. This long sought after meeting - it was the first one in almost over ten years - represented the occasion on which it would be determined whether the relationship among the two countries was to evolve towards the worst or the better.
Moreover, it is essential to consider the evolution of different artificial intelligence models. Beijing has now become a technological centre, forging new trade partnerships around the world, following the weakening of the bond with the US. The two countries should establish a firm line of communication; however, this project has not yet been realised.
Although President Xi declared multiple times China’s hope for a long-lasting partnership with the United States of America, going as far as making a toast to the ‘the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again can go hand in hand’ during a lavish state banquet, he has firm beliefs on different specific issues and is not willing to find any compromise on them.