US-China Frequent Interactions Before Xi-Trump Meeting, Analysis: Sending Positive Signals

CNA News

(CNA, Taipei, May 9) With the Xi-Trump summit approaching, high-level US and Chinese officials have been interacting frequently. Chinese scholars analyze that these multi-round interactions contain underlying competition but generally send positive signals, setting a pragmatic and rational tone for the two leaders' talks.

US President Donald Trump is expected to visit China on May 14-15 and hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Before the official start of the Xi-Trump meeting, 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 close to Trump.

Hong Kong's Ming Pao, in an exclusive article today, quoted Wang Yiwei, a professor at Renmin University of China's School of International Relations, as saying that Daines' trip was more about playing an active role as a face-to-face communicator. Daines' political spectrum leans towards Trump's relatively moderate wing, making this visit to China strategically significant.

Wang Yiwei believes that compared to the hardline Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Daines is both close to Trump's inner circle and not excessively intimate, making him suitable to serve as a moderate and pragmatic mouthpiece. This also indicates Trump's intention to facilitate the 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 within the island, creating new unstable factors. China's reiteration of its stance is intended to remind the US not to cross the red line."

It is noteworthy that the exclusive article stated that Wang Yi held a phone conversation with Rubio on April 30, and both emphasized the importance of head-of-state diplomacy. On the same day, China's chief negotiator for US-China economic and trade affairs, Vice Premier He Lifeng, held a video call with his US counterpart, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Gao Lingyun, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of World Economics and Politics, stated that US-China exchanges based on established communication channels show positive changes in US-China relations; however, it is still necessary to be vigilant against the US extending a "handshake" while simultaneously "stabbing in the back."

Concurrently, China's Ministry of Commerce announced on May 2 that China had issued a ban in accordance with the "Measures for Blocking the Improper Extraterritorial Application of Foreign Laws and Measures," blocking US sanctions imposed on five Chinese companies for their alleged involvement in Iran oil transactions. Gao Lingyun pointed out that this is the first time China has activated the blocking statute to counter US long-arm jurisdiction, marking not only a significant step in blocking improper extraterritorial jurisdiction but also adding new leverage in its competition with the US.

The article also mentioned that the US congressional delegation led by Daines successively visited Shanghai and Beijing. Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng stated during his meeting with the delegation that Shanghai is willing to strengthen economic and trade and industrial investment cooperation with the United States and welcomes US enterprises to make good use of the large platform of the China International Import Expo (CIIE) to invest and develop more in Shanghai. Analysts believe this indicates 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 wide open.

The article also stated that since April, US-China contacts at diplomatic, economic and trade, business, think tank, and youth cultural levels have significantly warmed. In response, Wang Yiwei analyzed that from the recent pace of US-China interactions, the warm-up for a possible head-of-state meeting has fully commenced; however, whether this series of intensive interactions can alleviate the tensions brought by recent competition remains to be seen.

Gao Lingyun, on the other hand, stated that Daines' visit to China can bring a pragmatic and rational voice to the head-of-state meeting, but the warm-up effect desired by Trump ultimately needs to be concluded with concrete policies and attitudes to truly make the positive atmosphere between the US and China contribute to the possible main event. (Editors: Chou Huei-ying / Chen Kai-yu) 1150509