Foreign media gave a chilly assessment of the first U.S.-China summit in nine years. The New York Times said, "President Donald Trump struck a flattering tone, while Chinese President Xi Jinping held firm on core issues."
On Nov. 14 (local time), the NYT drew a sharp contrast, noting that Trump maintained a conciliatory posture throughout his visit to China while Xi wasted no time on pleasantries. The paper paid particular attention to how Xi, immediately upon receiving Trump, drew a line by declaring the Taiwan issue a "red line" in bilateral relations. "The moment seemed to capture a new equilibrium between the two adversaries," the NYT analyzed. The Wall Street Journal likewise noted that "Xi's message on Taiwan stood out for its blunt phrasing," adding, "The two countries pulled back from a tit-for-tat trade war, but the fundamental structure of the relationship has not changed." U.S. diplomatic magazine Foreign Policy delivered a harsh verdict on the talks overall, saying, "From the Iran war to trade, Trump failed to extract major concessions from China."
Chinese media, by contrast, praised the summit as significant progress. Xinhua News Agency commented that "China and the U.S. held a candid and in-depth exchange of views" and that "this meeting is expected to add stability to the world." CCTV repeatedly quoted Trump's remark calling Xi a great leader.
Britain's Financial Times said it was "an occasion where China showcased its strengthened weight class," but pointed out that "China likewise failed to resolve any of the structural conflicts." Japan's Nikkei downplayed the meeting as "a managed summit rather than a deal of the century."
Foreign media assessed that Trump's invitation for Xi to visit the White House in September could prove a double-edged sword. With midterm elections in November, bringing Xi onto Trump's home turf could open the door to clinching deals left unresolved at this summit. In particular, the $14 billion arms sale Washington proposed to Taiwan could be delayed. Bloomberg warned this could trigger bipartisan backlash.
Meanwhile, Trump, en route home from Beijing aboard Air Force One, told reporters, "I discussed the North Korea issue with President Xi. I have a good relationship with Kim Jong-un," adding, "We also talked at length about the Taiwan issue, but I don't think there is a dispute with China."
Asked by reporters whether he would defend Taiwan if China attacked, Trump said, "President Xi asked me that, but I told him I don't talk about such things."
