Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Donald Trump at a summit in South Korea, reaching an agreement to halt the trade war.
Xi stated, “I have always believed that China’s development should go hand in hand with your vision of ‘Making America Great Again.'”
However, the amicable expressions could not conceal the shift in balance. China is now in a stronger economic position and has become a country capable of resisting US pressure.
Chinese President Xi managed to make Trump, who challenges the world and scolds anyone in his path, back down. Xi brought Trump to the table.
TACTICAL EASING
The tariffs implemented by Trump in April did not deter Beijing. Xi’s retaliation brought Washington back to the negotiating table three times.
At the meeting in South Korea, the parties agreed to suspend new export controls for one year and halt new shipping taxes.
The United States reduced tariffs on Chinese goods to 45 percent, while Beijing agreed to resume soybean purchases.
The parties still disagree on geopolitical issues such as Taiwan, the South China Sea, and China’s support for Russia in the war in Ukraine.
Although the summit provided short-term stability, fundamental disagreements remain unresolved. Shao from Fudan University stated that the summit only created a “tactical easing.”
CHINA’S GOAL IS TO ENDURE
Han Shen Lin from The Asia Group noted that the US is still a global power in technology, finance, and alliances, but added that this dominance is beginning to weaken.
According to Lin, China is pursuing a long-term strategy and using its domestic market as a buffer.
Lin said, “The US may determine the pace of the conflict in the short term, but China is preparing for a long struggle. It’s no longer a question of who is superior, but who can endure longer.”
Professor Shao Minghao from Fudan University said that this approach shows that China is using a new strategic language.
According to Zhao, Beijing is seeking a rapprochement between the goal of “Making China Great Again” and Trump’s vision of “Making America Great Again.”
China has placed increasing domestic demand at the center of its economic plans and will announce its new five-year plan, covering the period 2026-2030, in March.
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