WASHINGTON | President Donald Trump’s trip to China has turned into a concentrated test of his foreign policy, with trade, Iran, Taiwan and technology competition all expected to be part of talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
CBS News reported that Trump left Washington for the high-stakes meeting after delaying the summit because of the war with Iran. Reuters reported that Trump said he did not need China’s help to end the war, even though China’s relationship with Iran and its role as a major energy buyer make Beijing difficult to ignore.
The meeting is expected to address trade and market access, but it is unlikely to stay there. Taiwan arms sales, rare earth exports, artificial intelligence rules, business access and Iran-related pressure all sit near the center of the U.S.-China relationship.
For voters, the trip matters because the issues are no longer abstract. Fuel prices, inflation, business investment, defense spending and supply-chain stability all connect to whether Washington and Beijing can maintain a working relationship while still competing over security and technology.
The politics are delicate. Trump is trying to show strength abroad while the Iran war has become a domestic liability and inflation has put pressure on households. Any agreement that lowers energy or supply-chain risk would be easier to sell than a broad statement of goodwill.
Beijing also has leverage. China controls important rare earth supply chains and wants relief from U.S. restrictions on advanced technology. Washington wants access for U.S. companies, more predictable trade rules and a lower-risk environment around Taiwan and shipping routes.
No single meeting is likely to settle the relationship. But the summit can signal whether the two governments want to stabilize the competition or use the moment to extract concessions before the next crisis.
Additional Reporting By: CBS News; Reuters; Reuters Taiwan coverage