Trump-Xi Meeting: Scholars Say Pursuit of Strategic Stability Outweighs Grand Bargain

Central News Agency, Taipei, 14th - The 'Trump-Xi Meeting' took place in Beijing today. Scholars believe that both sides are seeking strategic stability over a grand bargain, and that forming a stable development is a common goal for China and the US. A better communication mechanism in areas such as economy, trade, and military is the anticipated outcome.

US President Donald Trump is visiting Beijing from the 13th to the 15th. He met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on the 14th. This is Trump's first visit to China since returning to the White House and his first state visit to China in over 8 years, since November 2017.

Wang Hsin-hsien, a distinguished professor at the Graduate Institute of East Asian Studies at National Chengchi University, analyzed for the Central News Agency that from the opening remarks, Xi talked about China-US relations and the broader world situation, while Trump focused on his personal relationship with Xi, trying to highlight his own ability to manage China-US risks to boost his prestige, especially with the US midterm elections in November.

It is not common for the US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chinese Minister of National Defense Dong Jun to be at the negotiating table together. Wang Hsin-hsien believes this is a different phenomenon from the past; there have been quite a few high-level military interactions between China and the US before. The simultaneous presence of Hegseth and Dong at the table is presumed to be due to concerns over military security, nuclear arms control, and arms sales to Taiwan.

According to a CCTV press release on the 14th, Xi mentioned at the meeting, 'The Taiwan issue is the most important issue in China-US relations. If handled well, the overall stability of the bilateral relationship can be maintained; if not, the two countries will collide or even conflict, pushing the entire China-US relationship into a very dangerous situation. Taiwan independence and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are as incompatible as fire and water. Maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is the greatest common denominator for both China and the US.'

Wang Hsin-hsien believes that Xi's remarks on Taiwan are 'heavier' than in the past, even pointing to 'collision, conflict,' which has a military flavor, coupled with the later mention of 'very dangerous' and 'incompatible as fire and water.' The CCP has elevated its characterization of the Taiwan issue, which is a more severe content compared to the past and must be noted; Beijing hopes for 'joint China-US management of Taiwan independence.'

Last night, it was Chinese Vice President Han Zheng who greeted Trump at Beijing Capital Airport. Wang Hsin-hsien stated that Han Zheng has retired from the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the CCP Central Committee; however, he is still a 'state-level' leader, so Beijing's reception for Trump was not a 'downgrade' in specifications.

Wang Hsin-hsien concluded that achieving a certain degree of strategic stability is a common goal for both sides, not a 'grand bargain.' A stable development between the US and China, including better communication mechanisms in economy, trade, and military fields, 'should be what both sides want.'

Wang Hung-jen, a professor in the Department of Political Science at National Chengchi University, told the Central News Agency that Xi's opening remarks on China-US relations and how major countries get along attempt to create an image of joint China-US governance for the international community. The Trump-Xi meeting can indeed play a stabilizing role, especially for neighboring countries like Japan and South Korea. A stable China-US situation without continuous friction is an expected outcome.

Wang Hung-jen mentioned that Hegseth and Dong Jun appearing at the negotiating table together is a rare situation. The US remains wary of China's military, and Hegseth accompanying Trump also has the flavor of probing the realities of the PLA's personnel changes. The long-term confrontational pattern between China and the US will not change, but at least this meeting can have a short-term stabilizing effect. (Editor: Chou Hui-ying) 1150514

Stand with the facts. Your every contribution is a force for safeguarding press freedom.

Download the Central News Agency's 'First-Hand News' app for the latest updates in real-time.

The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or used without authorization.