Beijing Summit: Last Day Holds Key Test for US-China Deal

The final day of the Beijing summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will serve as a real test of whether a tangible deal can be reached, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. Behind the veneer of luxury and goodwill that marked the meeting lie fundamental disagreements over each side's objectives for the summit and their broader views on US-China relations.

The two leaders enter the last day with notably divergent positions. They are scheduled to meet Friday for tea, followed by a working lunch, with Trump departing Beijing in the afternoon. Ahead of the second day, Trump sought on social media to downplay his differences with Xi, ignoring the Chinese leader's previous remarks that the West is in decline.

Contradictory Statements

Carefully crafted press releases from the first day of meetings avoided direct confrontation. The White House described the day as a "practical trade reset," while Beijing's statement framed it as the start of a multi-year "strategic stability" framework—an attempt by Xi to ensure Trump maintains a more stable approach for the remainder of his term and beyond.

The White House emphasized opportunities for US companies to access the Chinese market and for Chinese investment in the United States. It also included joint commitments to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. In contrast, the Chinese statement focused on managing differences and setting boundaries for competition to build a comprehensive, stable relationship, highlighting a strategic framework aimed at thwarting forces advocating a tougher line on China.

Xi's Strategy to Rein in Trump

According to the newspaper, this contrast is the clearest indicator yet of how Xi Jinping plans to manage the remainder of Trump's term: by publicly committing Trump to US restraint—no surprise tariffs, no sudden sanctions, and no provocations on Beijing's red lines. The report called this a successful policy in Beijing. As the domestic economy continues to suffer from weak consumption and industrial overcapacity, Xi can present a smoother relationship with the US as a counterbalance to rising discontent in the real estate, employment, and local finance sectors.

During the official state dinner, Trump described the talks as "very positive" and invited Xi for a state visit to Washington on September 24.

Taiwan: The Most Sensitive Issue

Xi Jinping's message on Taiwan emerged with stark clarity amid the stability discussions. He sought to undermine US support for the self-governing democratic island that Beijing intends to bring under its control. Xi was blunt with Trump, telling him that Taiwan is the "most important issue" and warning that if it is not handled "correctly, the two countries will collide, placing the entire US-China relationship in a very dangerous position."

Analysts believe Beijing is trying to define the relationship between the two superpowers by explicitly linking Taiwan to the bilateral framework. "You cannot have constructive strategic stability and mismanagement of Taiwan at the same time. We are not going to give you both," said Daniel Kritenbrink, a former senior US diplomat and current partner at the Asia Group in Washington, referring to Xi's strategy. He added, "They will come back to this every time they are dissatisfied with any US action and say, 'Look, you did something that undermines the consensus of the two leaders.'"

Trump did not publicly comment on Xi's statement regarding Taiwan when asked by reporters. The White House insisted, in preliminary briefings on the summit agenda, that US policy toward the island would not change. In Taipei, there was some relief at the summit's outcome. "Everyone was worried that China's strong demands would harm Taiwan. We haven't heard anything like that... so far," said Liang Wen-chung, deputy head of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council.