How Trump's China Visit May Hint at a New Era of Cooperation The optics of Donald Trump's recent visit to Beijing were undeniably positive, with the American president appearing statesmanlike as he smiled and shook hands with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
This brief display of camaraderie was easy to interpret as something historic – two great powers putting aside their differences in favor of cooperation. However, this narrative is somewhat misleading.
Beneath the surface level friendliness, Trump's visit served as a reminder that even in an era of unprecedented global complexity, the United States and China remain locked in a delicate dance of mutual suspicion.