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Trump, Xi End Summit, Claim Progress 05/15 06:18
U.S. President Donald Trump says he's not yet made a determination on
whether a major U.S. sale of arms to Taiwan can move forward, following his
three-day visit to China.
BEIJING (AP) -- U.S. President Donald Trump says he's not yet made a
determination on whether a major U.S. sale of arms to Taiwan can move forward,
following his three-day visit to China.
Speaking to reporters as he flew back on Air Force One on Friday, Trump said
he'd not decided on the sale, but he added, "I will make a determination."
Trump's Republican administration has authorized the sale but it has yet to
move forward. China opposes the deal and has suggested that Washington's
relationship with the self-governing island is the key factor in China-U.S.
relations.
Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping told him that he was opposed to
Taiwan's independence. "I heard him out," Trump said. "I didn't make a comment."
Trump and Xi wrapped up critical talks on Friday, claiming important
progress in stabilizing U.S.-China relations even as deep differences persist
between the world's two biggest powers on Iran, Taiwan and more.
Xi welcomed Trump at his official residence, Zhongnanhai, on Friday for
their final engagement of the summit before the U.S. leader's return to
Washington. The leaders took a short walk through the grounds that feature
ancient trees and Chinese roses, and strolled through a covered passageway with
green columns and archways painted with birds and traditional Chinese mountain
scenes.
Over tea and lunch, Trump and Xi -- with top aides and translators in tow --
huddled for nearly three hours of talks before the U.S. leader completed his
three-day visit to China.
"It's been really a great couple of days," Trump told reporters.
Xi, for his part, called it a "milestone" visit. "We have established a new
bilateral relationship, or rather a constructive, strategic, stable
relationship," he said.
But the optimistic outlook collides with some difficult truths about the
thorniest issues between the two superpowers.
Beijing has shown little public interest in U.S. entreaties to get more
involved in solving the conflict in Iran, even though Trump said in an
interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity that Xi had in their conversations
offered to help. In recent weeks, the U.S. State Department has accused Chinese
firms of providing satellite imagery to the Iranian government and the Treasury
Department has moved to target Chinese oil refineries accused of buying oil
from Tehran, as well as shippers of the oil.
And the White House believes China can still do more to stem the flow of
Chinese-made precursor chemicals into Mexico used to make illicit fentanyl that
has wreaked havoc on many U.S. communities.
Xi, meanwhile, warned Trump during private talks that their differences on
the self-ruled island of Taiwan, if handled poorly, could hurtle the world's
dominant powers toward "clashes and even conflicts," according to Chinese
government officials.
Trump appeared impressed by the bucolic grounds, remarking the roses were
the most beautiful he had ever seen. Xi promised to send him some rose seeds.
The compound is wrapped around two artificial lakes that had been built for
the pleasure of emperors. Zhongnanhai is often compared to the White House, the
Kremlin or South Korea's Blue House. But unlike the other presidential
residences, Zhongnanhai does not serve as the main venue for diplomatic visits.
The invitation appeared to be an attempt by Xi to extend a personal touch to a
U.S. leader who appreciates big gestures.
"I think he's a warm person, actually. But he's all business," Trump said of
Xi in the Fox News interview. "There's no games."
The Chinese government also bid farewell to Trump with great pomp.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi saw a smiling Trump off at the airport. And
schoolchildren dressed in Air Force One's light blue and white colors waved
American and Chinese flags in a coordinated movement as the U.S. president
arrived to board the plane.
Taiwan remains the most important issue for China
Xi's sharp language on Taiwan loomed large over the visit, with Chinese
government officials amplifying that differences on the self-ruled island pose
the biggest risk to U.S.-Chinese relations.
But Secretary of State Marco Rubio told NBC News that U.S. policy toward
Taiwan was "unchanged" and cautioned that it would be "a terrible mistake" for
China to try to take Taiwan by force. He also framed Xi's comments as standard
practice.
"They always raise it on their side. We always make clear our position, and
we move on to the other topics," said Rubio, who was among senior aides to join
Trump for the talks.
China in recent weeks has sought to put more focus on its view that Taiwan
sits at the "core" of its interests and is key to ensuring a stable
relationship with the U.S. Trump at moments has shown ambivalence toward
Taiwan, raising speculation that he could be open to loosening ties with Taipei.
Trump has demanded Taiwan increase defense spending, and in December, the
White House announced an $11 billion weapons package for Taiwan, the largest
ever to the island democracy.
But the U.S. has yet to begin fulfilling the arms sales, and Trump had said
he expected to discuss the matter with Xi in Beijing. He's also groused that
Taiwan "stole" America's semiconductor business and called on Taiwan to pay the
U.S. for protection.
China wants the Strait of Hormuz opened
The leaders agreed that the Strait of Hormuz -- effectively closed since the
start of the Iran conflict -- needs to be reopened to support global energy
demands About 20% of the world's oil flowed through the strait before the war
started on Feb. 28.
"We feel very similar about (how) we want it to end," the president said
with Xi at this side. "We don't want them to have a nuclear weapon."
White House officials say Xi was also opposed to any implementation of tolls
on vessels crossing the strait and expressed interest in China potentially
purchasing U.S. oil to reduce Chinese dependence on Gulf oil in the future.
Trump earlier this week had downplayed the importance of talks with Xi on
the 11-week-old Iran war that has led to surging energy prices and threatens to
plunge the global economy into recession if the conflict does not conclude soon.
But before Air Force One could land in Beijing, Rubio said administration
officials would make the case to the Chinese officials about why they should be
invested in prodding Iran to come to terms to end the war.
Indeed, the Chinese, who have been critical of the U.S. and Israeli
bombardment of Iran, hold unique leverage as Iran's biggest trading partner.
The Chinese government has managed to weather the economic damage caused by the
war with the help of its strategic oil reserves, but that backstop is not
limitless. Economists say the Iran conflict could still have a big impact on
China's export-driven economy.
Will Trump announce any major business deals?
The White House, ahead of the visit, insisted that Trump wouldn't be making
the trip without an eye toward securing results before he leaves, suggesting
there could be announcements coming on trade.
Trump says some "fantastic trade deals" had been struck during the visit,
but did not offer further details
The U.S. side had been hoping to nail down Chinese commitments to buy U.S.
soybeans and beef. Trump told Fox News that Xi had indicated a commitment for
China to buy 200 Boeing jets from the U.S.
The leaders on Thursday discussed increasing U.S. agricultural purchases by
the Chinese and opportunities for both sides to expand investment into each
other's markets, according to the White House. Trump administration officials
also want to work toward establishing a Board of Trade with China to address
commercial differences between the countries.
Trump, whose delegation for the trip included the CEOs of Mastercard and
Visa, said he also raised with Xi expanding access to the China market for the
U.S.-based credit card companies.
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