Trump Has Not Just Weakened His Hand with China: He’s Playing the Wrong Game
The summit in Beijing demonstrated how China’s position has strengthened since the U.S. president returned to office.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping meet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, May 14, 2026. Credit: The White House
In the run-up to the first U.S. presidential visit to China in nearly a decade, President Trump talked up its potential achievements. His Truth Social feed and the official White House account both exuded glowing expectations that “great things will happen.”
A post on Truth Social from President Trump, made during his trip to China, May 14, 2026. Credit: @realDonaldTrump
Even after he arrived in Beijing, Trump painted the summit in the best light, repeatedly claiming a pers
Exclusive longform investigative journalism, Q&As, news and analysis, and data on Chinese business elites and corporations. We publish China scoops you won't find anywhere else.
A weekly curated reading list on China from Andrew Peaple.
A daily roundup of China finance, business and economics headlines.
We offer discounts for groups, institutions and students. Go to our Subscriptions page for details.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
