Trump's China summit shows toll of a difficult year for the president

"Trump came to Beijing hoping to do trade deals. Xi made it known that Taiwan's fate, not investment, was China's top priority - yanking the spotlight from Trump's preferred focus to warn of "clashes and even conflicts" with the United States should disagreements over the disputed island be mismanaged."

"Instead, there was Chinese President Xi Jinping, respectful but businesslike, welcoming but appearing to bend little on the U.S. leader's priorities. Trump came to Beijing hoping to do trade deals. Xi made it known that Taiwan's fate, not investment, was China's top priority - yanking the spotlight from Trump's preferred focus to warn of "clashes and even conflicts" with the United States should disagreements over the disputed island be mismanaged."

"Trump left on Friday with a promise of a Xi trip to the White House in September and trade deals that were mostly a disappointment, at least as measured by the 8 percent drop in Boeing's stock price between Trump's arrival in Beijing and his departure. The president declared delight that the trip made it possible for top U.S. business executives to meet the Chinese leader, but offered little evidence of transactions that resulted."

""The biggest businessmen in the world and women, couple of women, and most of them, almost all of them, but most of them never met President Xi. This was the first time they've met up. So they found it exciting," Trump told Fox News."

Trump’s first major foreign trip a year earlier promised a break from U.S. nation-building, but his Beijing visit came amid rising inflation and a difficult conflict with Iran. The situation has involved the U.S. military, pushed energy prices higher, and reduced Trump’s approval ratings. Unlike the earlier trip’s sweeping declarations and ceremonial warmth, the Beijing meeting featured Xi Jinping as respectful and businesslike while showing little flexibility on U.S. priorities. Trump sought trade deals, while Xi emphasized Taiwan’s fate as China’s top priority and warned of clashes or conflicts if disagreements over the island are mishandled. Trump left with a promise of a Xi White House visit and mostly disappointing trade outcomes, reflected in Boeing’s stock decline.

Read at The Washington Post