More in name than in substance.

After nearly a decade, US President Donald Trump is visiting China again. Compared to previous bilateral high-level meetings, this meeting between the US and China is particularly significant given the global context and the current state of relations between the two countries.

Both of these factors signal that the US and China will achieve certain results, but they cannot create a breakthrough that would overcome long-standing obstacles and usher in a new era of bilateral relations, nor will they bring about a fundamental qualitative transformation in the relationship. Even though President Donald Trump was given a very warm welcome by China, the results of the current high-level meeting between China and the US remain more nominal than substantive.

The primary reason is that both the US and China need to control the development of their bilateral relationship to prevent it from deteriorating further. However, currently, neither the premise nor the timing is favorable for negotiations to reach major agreements between the two sides. Therefore, President Donald Trump can only secure a few isolated agreements with China, and these are merely temporary, situational agreements to alleviate domestic dilemmas for both sides.

China will certainly buy more agricultural products and goods from the US, and the US will make certain concessions to China in the high-tech sector, particularly in electronic chips. The two sides could reach a temporary "truce" in the protectionist trade war. China will certainly not comply with President Donald Trump's demands regarding pressure on Iran, distancing itself from Russia, and matters concerning Taiwan. President Trump has repeatedly and unexpectedly changed his views and policies, so China remains cautious and prudent, pursuing a conciliatory approach with the US but always ready to "go all in" against it. Considering President Trump's personality, his current difficult and awkward domestic and foreign policy situation, and the fundamental strategic conflicts of interest between the two sides, any agreement President Trump might reach with China is nothing more than a brief lull between storms.

The next reason is the asymmetrical balance of power between the US and China at this summit. President Donald Trump's advantages are protectionist tariffs, American high technology and electronic chips, the $11 billion arms supply to Taiwan, and the network of military cooperation between the US and many partners in the Indo-Pacific region. His weaknesses on this trip to China are: being bogged down in the Iran war, the deadlock over a solution to the Strait of Hormuz issue, rising inflation in the US, declining approval ratings, the diminishing effectiveness of protectionist tariffs, and the potential to weaken the Republican Party in the upcoming US midterm congressional elections. Therefore, President Donald Trump desperately needs to be welcomed by China and needs to reach an agreement with China.

China benefits from its near-monopoly in the supply of rare earth minerals, from President Donald Trump's difficulties and dilemmas in the wars in Ukraine and Iran, and from his ability to retaliate in economic and trade cooperation. China is saving face for Donald Trump, but it will likely not allow the White House to use China to escape its domestic and foreign policy predicament. Because the outcome is more symbolic than substantive, this high-level meeting between China and the US will have only a limited impact on world politics .

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/nhieu-danh-nghia-hon-thuc-chat-750019.html