Analysis: Beijing Gives Trump High-Level Reception, Trading 'Face' for 'Substance'
U.S. President Trump arrived in Beijing and was greeted by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng. This reception, at the 'national leader' level, surpassed the one from his visit nine years ago and the treatment of Russian President Putin. Analysts suggest China is giving 'face' to gain 'substance' in return.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 14, 2026 at 15:44
- 🔍 Collected: May 14, 2026 at 16:02 (17 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 15, 2026 at 03:34 (11h 31m after Collected)
Taipei, May 14 (CNA) - U.S. President Trump's special plane arrived in Beijing yesterday, where he was greeted by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng. Analysts say that China's reception of Trump with a national-level leader at the airport exceeded the protocol of Trump's first China trip nine years ago and also surpassed the reception for Russian President Putin, suggesting that China is giving ample 'face' in exchange for 'substance'.
Trump and his delegation flew into Beijing last night and were welcomed at the airport by Han Zheng. Han Zheng, a national-level leader who previously served as a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and the First Vice Premier of the State Council, greeted Trump at the airport, a protocol significantly higher than when Trump first visited China as president in 2017.
Hong Kong 01 noted that nine years ago, in November 2017, during Trump's first presidential term visit to China, he was greeted at the airport by then-Politburo member and State Councilor Yang Jiechi. Yang was China's highest-ranking diplomat at the time, and his presence at the airport demonstrated the importance China placed on Trump's visit.
Following the precedent of Trump's 2017 visit, upon his arrival in Beijing this time, he should have been greeted by the current highest-ranking diplomat, Politburo member, Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Office, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. However, unexpectedly, he was greeted by Vice President Han Zheng, who ranks above Wang Yi, indicating that China would treat Trump with high protocol this time, giving him plenty of 'face'.
The report mentioned that China's reception for Trump's visit this time even surpassed that for Putin and was similar to the protocol for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's visit. In August 2025, when Putin arrived in Tianjin, he was greeted by Politburo member and Tianjin Party Secretary Chen Min'er. In May 2024, when Putin arrived in Beijing, he was greeted by State Councilor Shen Yiqin. Both Chen and Shen are deputy national-level leaders.
The report also mentioned that when Kim Jong Un visited China in September 2025, he was greeted by national-level leader and First Secretary of the Central Secretariat, Cai Qi. The high-protocol welcome for Kim Jong Un is rooted in the special historical relationship between China and North Korea. For many years, leaders of the two countries have received unconventional reception protocols when visiting each other.
Hong Kong 01's analysis points out that compared to nine years ago, the gap in comprehensive national power between China and the U.S. has significantly narrowed. China has shown great resilience in the face of the trade and technology wars initiated by the U.S., and its leverage has clearly increased. In contrast to China's steady rise in national power, Trump's initiation of a global trade war since his second term, widening rifts with European allies, and now being in a difficult position due to the U.S.-Iran war, means his leverage is less than it was during his visit to China nine years ago.
If so, why is Beijing's reception protocol this time higher than for Trump's first China trip? The report analyzes that diplomacy with the U.S. is an important part of China's foreign policy, and Sino-U.S. relations are the most important state-to-state relationship in the world today. China's high-protocol reception for Trump is in line with its hospitality.
Secondly, China hopes to exchange 'face' for 'substance' with Trump. The report states that in 2025, when Trump launched a global trade war, China was the only country to impose equivalent countermeasures against the U.S., forcing Trump to agree to a one-year trade war truce with China. China has proven through its actions and comprehensive strength that it 'does not need to flatter Trump, but China's national interests and civilizational ambitions dictate that China should ease relations with Trump and the U.S.'
The report says this year is the first year of China's '15th Five-Year Plan' (2026-2030), and the next 5 to 10 years are a critical period for China to basically achieve modernization. What is most needed now is time for peaceful development, and to continue developing its economy and technology. Competition between China and the U.S. is inevitable, but stabilizing relations with the U.S. is conducive to creating a relatively peaceful and stable environment for China's development. For this reason, whether it is out of hospitality or to trade 'face' for 'substance', China will receive Trump with high protocol. (Editors: Chou Hui-ying / Lu Chia-jung) 1150514
Trump and his delegation flew into Beijing last night and were welcomed at the airport by Han Zheng. Han Zheng, a national-level leader who previously served as a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and the First Vice Premier of the State Council, greeted Trump at the airport, a protocol significantly higher than when Trump first visited China as president in 2017.
Hong Kong 01 noted that nine years ago, in November 2017, during Trump's first presidential term visit to China, he was greeted at the airport by then-Politburo member and State Councilor Yang Jiechi. Yang was China's highest-ranking diplomat at the time, and his presence at the airport demonstrated the importance China placed on Trump's visit.
Following the precedent of Trump's 2017 visit, upon his arrival in Beijing this time, he should have been greeted by the current highest-ranking diplomat, Politburo member, Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Office, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. However, unexpectedly, he was greeted by Vice President Han Zheng, who ranks above Wang Yi, indicating that China would treat Trump with high protocol this time, giving him plenty of 'face'.
The report mentioned that China's reception for Trump's visit this time even surpassed that for Putin and was similar to the protocol for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's visit. In August 2025, when Putin arrived in Tianjin, he was greeted by Politburo member and Tianjin Party Secretary Chen Min'er. In May 2024, when Putin arrived in Beijing, he was greeted by State Councilor Shen Yiqin. Both Chen and Shen are deputy national-level leaders.
The report also mentioned that when Kim Jong Un visited China in September 2025, he was greeted by national-level leader and First Secretary of the Central Secretariat, Cai Qi. The high-protocol welcome for Kim Jong Un is rooted in the special historical relationship between China and North Korea. For many years, leaders of the two countries have received unconventional reception protocols when visiting each other.
Hong Kong 01's analysis points out that compared to nine years ago, the gap in comprehensive national power between China and the U.S. has significantly narrowed. China has shown great resilience in the face of the trade and technology wars initiated by the U.S., and its leverage has clearly increased. In contrast to China's steady rise in national power, Trump's initiation of a global trade war since his second term, widening rifts with European allies, and now being in a difficult position due to the U.S.-Iran war, means his leverage is less than it was during his visit to China nine years ago.
If so, why is Beijing's reception protocol this time higher than for Trump's first China trip? The report analyzes that diplomacy with the U.S. is an important part of China's foreign policy, and Sino-U.S. relations are the most important state-to-state relationship in the world today. China's high-protocol reception for Trump is in line with its hospitality.
Secondly, China hopes to exchange 'face' for 'substance' with Trump. The report states that in 2025, when Trump launched a global trade war, China was the only country to impose equivalent countermeasures against the U.S., forcing Trump to agree to a one-year trade war truce with China. China has proven through its actions and comprehensive strength that it 'does not need to flatter Trump, but China's national interests and civilizational ambitions dictate that China should ease relations with Trump and the U.S.'
The report says this year is the first year of China's '15th Five-Year Plan' (2026-2030), and the next 5 to 10 years are a critical period for China to basically achieve modernization. What is most needed now is time for peaceful development, and to continue developing its economy and technology. Competition between China and the U.S. is inevitable, but stabilizing relations with the U.S. is conducive to creating a relatively peaceful and stable environment for China's development. For this reason, whether it is out of hospitality or to trade 'face' for 'substance', China will receive Trump with high protocol. (Editors: Chou Hui-ying / Lu Chia-jung) 1150514