Frequent US-China Interactions Before Trump-Xi Summit; Analysis: Sending Positive Signals
Ahead of the upcoming Trump-Xi summit, high-level US and Chinese officials have been interacting frequently. Chinese scholars analyze that while these multi-round interactions involve strategic maneuvering, they generally send positive signals, laying a pragmatic and rational foundation for the two leaders' talks.
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- 📰 Published: May 9, 2026 at 12:38
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Taipei, May 9 (CNA) With the Trump-Xi summit approaching, high-level US and Chinese officials have been interacting frequently. Chinese scholars analyze that while these multi-round interactions involve strategic maneuvering, they generally send positive signals, laying a pragmatic and rational foundation for the two leaders' talks.
US President Donald Trump is expected to visit China from the 14th to the 15th and hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Before the official start of the Trump-Xi summit, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, National People's Congress Standing Committee Chairman Zhao Leji, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently met separately with Republican Senator Steve Daines, who is closely associated with Trump.
Hong Kong's Ming Pao today quoted Wang Yiwei, a professor at the School of International Relations at Renmin University of China, in a special article, stating that Daines' trip played a more active role as a face-to-face communicator. Daines' political spectrum leans towards Trump's relatively moderate faction, and this visit to China holds special strategic significance.
Wang Yiwei believes that compared to the hardline Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Daines is close to Trump's inner circle yet not overly intimate, making him suitable to act as a moderate and pragmatic messenger. This also indicates Trump's intention to facilitate a meeting between the two leaders as soon as possible.
The article mentioned that during his meeting with Daines, Li Qiang pointed out that "the Taiwan issue is the first insurmountable red line in US-China relations." In response, Wang Yiwei analyzed that "the recent situation in the Taiwan Strait has been disturbed by the US, Japan, and 'Taiwan independence' forces on the island, creating new unstable factors. China's reiteration of its stance aims to remind the US not to cross the red line."
It is worth noting that the special article stated that Wang Yi spoke with Rubio by phone on April 30, and both emphasized the importance of head-of-state diplomacy. On the same day, He Lifeng, China's chief negotiator for US-China economic and trade affairs and Vice Premier of the State Council, held a video call with Scott Bessent, the US chief negotiator and US Treasury Secretary. Gao Lingyun, a researcher at the Institute of World Economics and Politics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, stated that the exchanges between China and the US based on established communication channels show positive changes in US-China relations; however, it is still necessary to be wary of the US "shaking hands" while simultaneously "stabbing in the back."
At the same time, China's Ministry of Commerce announced on the 2nd that China, in accordance with the "Measures for Blocking Improper Extraterritorial Application of Foreign Laws and Measures," issued a ban to block US sanctions imposed on five Chinese companies for their alleged involvement in Iranian oil transactions. Gao Lingyun pointed out that this is the first time China has activated the blocking measures to counter US long-arm jurisdiction, not only taking an important step in blocking improper extraterritorial jurisdiction but also adding new leverage to its strategic game with the US.
The article also mentioned that the US congressional delegation led by Daines visited Shanghai and Beijing. Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng met with the delegation and stated that Shanghai is willing to strengthen economic, trade, and industrial investment cooperation with the US, welcoming US enterprises to make good use of the CIIE platform and invest more in Shanghai. Analysis suggests that this demonstrates the interdependence of US-China economic and trade relations, which cannot be easily swayed by political factors. As long as the US shows sincerity, China's door to opening up remains open.
The article also stated that since April, US-China contacts in diplomacy, economy and trade, business circles, think tanks, and youth and cultural exchanges have significantly warmed up. In response, Wang Yiwei analyzed that judging from the recent pace of US-China interactions, the warm-up for a possible head-of-state meeting has fully commenced; however, it remains to be seen whether this series of intensive interactions can alleviate the tensions brought by recent strategic maneuvering.
Gao Lingyun, on the other hand, stated that Daines' visit to China can bring pragmatic and rational voices to the head-of-state meeting, but the warm-up effect desired by Trump ultimately needs to conclude with concrete policies and attitudes to truly help the positive atmosphere between China and the US contribute to the possible main event. (Edited by: Chou Hui-ying / Chen Kai-yu) 1150509
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US President Donald Trump is expected to visit China from the 14th to the 15th and hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Before the official start of the Trump-Xi summit, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, National People's Congress Standing Committee Chairman Zhao Leji, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently met separately with Republican Senator Steve Daines, who is closely associated with Trump.
Hong Kong's Ming Pao today quoted Wang Yiwei, a professor at the School of International Relations at Renmin University of China, in a special article, stating that Daines' trip played a more active role as a face-to-face communicator. Daines' political spectrum leans towards Trump's relatively moderate faction, and this visit to China holds special strategic significance.
Wang Yiwei believes that compared to the hardline Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Daines is close to Trump's inner circle yet not overly intimate, making him suitable to act as a moderate and pragmatic messenger. This also indicates Trump's intention to facilitate a meeting between the two leaders as soon as possible.
The article mentioned that during his meeting with Daines, Li Qiang pointed out that "the Taiwan issue is the first insurmountable red line in US-China relations." In response, Wang Yiwei analyzed that "the recent situation in the Taiwan Strait has been disturbed by the US, Japan, and 'Taiwan independence' forces on the island, creating new unstable factors. China's reiteration of its stance aims to remind the US not to cross the red line."
It is worth noting that the special article stated that Wang Yi spoke with Rubio by phone on April 30, and both emphasized the importance of head-of-state diplomacy. On the same day, He Lifeng, China's chief negotiator for US-China economic and trade affairs and Vice Premier of the State Council, held a video call with Scott Bessent, the US chief negotiator and US Treasury Secretary. Gao Lingyun, a researcher at the Institute of World Economics and Politics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, stated that the exchanges between China and the US based on established communication channels show positive changes in US-China relations; however, it is still necessary to be wary of the US "shaking hands" while simultaneously "stabbing in the back."
At the same time, China's Ministry of Commerce announced on the 2nd that China, in accordance with the "Measures for Blocking Improper Extraterritorial Application of Foreign Laws and Measures," issued a ban to block US sanctions imposed on five Chinese companies for their alleged involvement in Iranian oil transactions. Gao Lingyun pointed out that this is the first time China has activated the blocking measures to counter US long-arm jurisdiction, not only taking an important step in blocking improper extraterritorial jurisdiction but also adding new leverage to its strategic game with the US.
The article also mentioned that the US congressional delegation led by Daines visited Shanghai and Beijing. Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng met with the delegation and stated that Shanghai is willing to strengthen economic, trade, and industrial investment cooperation with the US, welcoming US enterprises to make good use of the CIIE platform and invest more in Shanghai. Analysis suggests that this demonstrates the interdependence of US-China economic and trade relations, which cannot be easily swayed by political factors. As long as the US shows sincerity, China's door to opening up remains open.
The article also stated that since April, US-China contacts in diplomacy, economy and trade, business circles, think tanks, and youth and cultural exchanges have significantly warmed up. In response, Wang Yiwei analyzed that judging from the recent pace of US-China interactions, the warm-up for a possible head-of-state meeting has fully commenced; however, it remains to be seen whether this series of intensive interactions can alleviate the tensions brought by recent strategic maneuvering.
Gao Lingyun, on the other hand, stated that Daines' visit to China can bring pragmatic and rational voices to the head-of-state meeting, but the warm-up effect desired by Trump ultimately needs to conclude with concrete policies and attitudes to truly help the positive atmosphere between China and the US contribute to the possible main event. (Edited by: Chou Hui-ying / Chen Kai-yu) 1150509
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
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The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.