Will the Trump–Xi Meeting Be Full of Uncertainty? Beijing Under Heavy Pressure

Trump stares at Xi Jinping

[People News] The “Trump–Xi meeting” has entered the countdown phase. U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to visit Beijing from late March to early April for a summit with CCP leader Xi Jinping. However, according to the latest reports, even before this diplomatic spectacle begins, Zhongnanhai may already be losing sleep under mounting pressure.

According to the South China Morning Post, with less than six weeks remaining before the highly anticipated state visit, coordination work between the U.S. and China is facing unprecedented difficulties. For Beijing, which has always been meticulous and demands that everything be “foolproof,” the current state of preparations can only be described as overwhelming and chaotic.

Many may not realize that when preparing for a leaders’ summit, the CCP’s obsession with details borders on the extreme. The report notes that the Chinese side carefully calculates how many steps Xi Jinping will take to the restroom and even repeatedly analyzes the optimal angle for official photographs. Chinese officials may even instruct foreign leaders to approach Xi from his right side so that, during the handshake, the foreign leader must extend his arm—creating a visual effect that, through state media cameras, reinforces Xi’s image as a “great-power leader.”

This time, however, Beijing faces its most troublesome counterpart—Donald Trump.

Trump and Xi have vastly different political styles. Xi typically does not directly participate in negotiations; his role is that of the final “confirmer” and “approver,” and all agendas must follow a prearranged script.

Trump, by contrast, is entirely different. As a businessman-turned-president, he favors improvisational negotiation and reportedly attends summits with little or no briefing materials. He places greater emphasis on personal charisma and instinct. This unpredictable and unconventional style poses a major challenge for CCP leaders, who demand strict planning and seek to avoid any surprises.

Think tank analysts suggest that Washington currently appears relatively casual—some might even say opportunistic—about the trip’s arrangements, which has left Beijing both anxious and frustrated. While Beijing views the visit as a significant political opportunity, the U.S. side seems unwilling to follow traditional diplomatic choreography.