Did Xi Know About Trump’s Harsh Criticism of the CCP?

Trump's soft and hard tactics leave the CCP disoriented. (Image by Qing Yu / People News)

[People News] Since Donald Trump took office as President of the United States, he has made significant moves in just one month, unveiling a brand-new American government to the world. Recently, the Trump administration has taken two more major actions.

First, regarding the termination of the Russia-Ukraine war, U.S. and Russian teams held highly-anticipated talks in Saudi Arabia. After the meeting, the U.S. State Department stated that the talks "took an important step forward." Russian negotiators described the discussions with the U.S. on Ukraine as positive, and Trump hinted at a possible meeting with Putin at the end of the month. The exclusion of the CCP from direct U.S.-Russia talks has reportedly frustrated Beijing.

Second, the U.S. State Department recently updated its website regarding Taiwan’s status, removing the previous statement that the U.S. "does not support Taiwan independence." This significant shift in stance has sparked strong dissatisfaction from the CCP government.

Regarding the U.S.’s changed stance on Taiwan, Jin Canrong, a CCP-affiliated expert and professor at Renmin University of China, known for his ties to high-level officials, gave an interview published on February 19 by the "Jin Jin Le Dao Editorial Office" public account.

Jin stated, "From an optimistic perspective, the U.S. government’s series of actions will not impact our progress toward resolving the Taiwan issue." He added, "In the field of aviation equipment, we have gained a certain advantage over the U.S." and concluded, "Regardless of how external forces interfere, China’s steps toward national reunification will not stop."

In other words, even if the U.S. supports Taiwan’s independence, the CCP will not abandon its plan for a forceful reunification. Jin’s confidence is questionable, as the CCP may have made progress in certain areas, but it still lags significantly behind the U.S. in overall weaponry, combat readiness, and multi-branch military cooperation.

Notably, newly-appointed U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has publicly stated that the U.S. does not seek conflict with Communist China but will use strong deterrence to curb the CCP’s aggression. Therefore, at the start of 2025, the U.S. Air Force conducted several exercises to demonstrate its air power and rapid deployment capabilities, ensuring that the U.S. and its allies are prepared for joint defense and reinforcing the U.S.’s commitment to stability, security, and cooperation in the entire Indo-Pacific region.

After sharing his views on the U.S.’s shift in Taiwan policy, Jin reiterated that Trump’s flurry of actions indicates that his national grand strategy still targets China (the CCP) for a potential strategic showdown. He had expressed this view during a February 12 interview published on the Chinese Observer website.

Jin Canrong believes that the core diplomatic strategy of Trump’s second term will remain "confrontation with the CCP." He is currently realigning U.S. diplomatic strategy. "Although these actions may seem bizarre, they make sense when viewed as preparations for a strategic showdown with the CCP. Whether in Trump’s 1.0 or 2.0 era, all measures aimed at the CCP have clearly been laying the groundwork for an eventual showdown," Jin said. "Even though his rhetoric appears more moderate compared to before, Trump is unwaveringly advancing anti-CCP policies through his actions." Jin concluded that everything Trump is doing domestically and diplomatically is aimed at a final confrontation with the CCP.

The author agrees with this view. Strengthening U.S. power and cohesion, repairing relations with Russia, and swiftly ending the Russia-Ukraine war all point to a preparation for confronting the CCP.

Regarding Trump’s determination, Jin warned the CCP leadership, "There must be no unrealistic illusions about Trump’s established policies."

To support his analysis, Jin shared that a friend of a friend had once seen Trump in an extremely private setting, where Trump bluntly referred to the CCP as "big ***" (three omitted letters). Though the exact phrase is unknown, Jin described it as "extremely offensive," revealing Trump’s deep disdain and even hatred for the CCP. It also demonstrates his resolve to take action against the CCP.

Since Jin has obtained such information, it’s likely that senior CCP officials, including those in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and possibly central leadership, are also aware. However, whether Xi Jinping himself knows remains uncertain. In today’s CCP political scene, no officials dare to speak the truth—even at the highest levels. If such remarks were to reach Xi’s ears, there’s no telling whether it might trigger another stroke. 

(First published by People News)