Three Major Topics of the Trump-Xi Meeting Emerge, with Taiwan at the Forefront

A U.S. military C-17 transport aircraft has landed in Beijing (Image source: sourced from Weibo)

[People News] Recently, U.S. military C-17 transport aircraft have landed in Beijing for three consecutive days, signalling the start of preparations for President Trump's upcoming visit to China. A Hong Kong media outlet has analysed that the recent statements and interactions between the U.S. and China indicate that the three core issues for the Trump-Xi meeting—'Taiwan, trade, and Iran'—have become clearly defined.

Trump is expected to embark on a two-day state visit to China on the 14th. Since May 1, at least four U.S. military C-17 transport aircraft have landed at Beijing Capital Airport over three consecutive days, drawing a large crowd of photography enthusiasts to the scene. According to standard practice, C-17s typically transport various supplies, including special vehicles and security equipment, ahead of a presidential visit, indicating that preparations for Trump's visit to Beijing are already in progress.

Sing Tao Daily reported that Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin held a high-level video call on April 30 to discuss the implementation of the consensus reached by the two leaders; on the same day, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with Wang asserting that the 'Taiwan issue' represents the greatest risk in U.S.-China relations.

The article states, 'The Taiwan issue is paramount and represents an unyielding bottom line for China.' During a phone call between Wang Yi and Marco Rubio, it was clearly emphasised that the Taiwan issue is central to the core interests of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and poses the greatest risk in China-U.S. relations. The U.S. should uphold its commitments and make a 'correct choice.' This 'choice' can be interpreted as the CCP's demand for the U.S. to explicitly oppose 'Taiwan independence' at the upcoming summit.

In its latest editorial, the British newspaper The Guardian asserts that Taiwan deserves ongoing support from the U.S. This is crucial because any unexpected developments or misjudgments in the Taiwan Strait would be detrimental to both parties, and maintaining the current policy aligns with U.S. interests.

Furthermore, the article analyses that economic and trade issues continue to be a focal point in the competition between China and the U.S. During a video call, He Lifeng and Brian Deese expressed serious concerns regarding the recent U.S. restrictions on China's economic and trade practices. In the context of CCP diplomacy, the term 'serious concerns' represents a moderately strong formal expression, situated between 'close attention' and 'serious negotiations,' indicating a significant level of concern.

The article notes that the CCP has engaged in six rounds of economic and trade negotiations with the Trump 2.0 administration, revealing persistent differences between the two sides. These include the U.S. continuing to exert pressure through Section 301 investigations and new tariffs, as well as tightening export controls in sectors like semiconductors and AI. It is anticipated that economic and trade matters will remain a central focus of the 'Trump-Xi meeting.'

Regarding the Iran issue, the article highlights its implications for global energy security. On May 1, Beijing officially assumed the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council. Fu Cong, China's representative to the UN, indicated that if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed during Trump's visit to China this month, this issue will undoubtedly become a significant topic at the China-U.S. summit, underscoring the CCP's serious attention to this matter.

In an effort to compel the Tehran authorities to end the war, the United States has imposed sanctions on Chinese refining companies that process Iranian oil. In response, Beijing has urged Chinese firms to disregard U.S. sanctions, thereby challenging the American sanctions framework. This situation has further strained U.S.-China relations.

Earlier, Trump publicly disclosed that Xi Jinping not only denied providing military aid to Iran but also assured that he would not support Iran. However, shortly after this, a cargo ship from Iran, departing from China, was intercepted by the U.S. military. Trump expressed his irritation over this incident, stating in a post that the ship was carrying 'some not-so-good gifts from China' and remarked, 'I thought we had reached some kind of consensus with President Xi.'

It is reported that Trump's visit to China lasted only 36 hours. While it has attracted global attention, its symbolic significance is greater than its practical implications, and it is believed that reaching a breakthrough consensus on the three major issues of Taiwan, economic and trade relations, and Iran will be challenging.
△