From Cake at Mar-a-Lago to a More Cautious US: Six Years on, China's Xi Returns
During his last visit to the US, Xi Jinping was warmly received at Mar-a-Lago by former-President Donald Trump Over a delightful dinner, they bonded over a delectable chocolate cake and enjoyed a heartfelt Chinese folk song serenaded by Trump's grandchildren However, times have changed, and as Xi returns to a more cautious America, disillusionment looms amidst diplomatic efforts From Iowa farms to the iconic Golden Gate, this visit will unfold against a backdrop of shifting sentiments
Sign up for CNN's newsletter, Meanwhile in China, to stay informed about the country's rise and its global impact. During Xi Jinping's previous visit to the United States, former-President Donald Trump hosted the Chinese leader at his luxurious Mar-a-Lago estate, surrounded by palm trees. Amidst a serene ambiance created by candlelight, the two leaders enjoyed a delightful conversation, accompanied by a delectable piece of chocolate cake and a delightful Chinese folk song performed by Trump's grandchildren.
Trump, praising their "remarkable chemistry," showered Xi with compliments following their initial one-on-one encounter, confidently foreseeing the resolution of numerous daunting issues. Over six years have passed since that idyllic rendezvous at the Florida retreat, and now, the United States is gearing up to welcome the Chinese leader once more. However, their upcoming meeting takes place in a significantly less intimate environment, with the world's two largest economies resembling a wary couple on the precipice of separation.
Xi is scheduled to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco and have a meeting with US President Joe Biden on the side. However, Xi will be arriving in a United States that has notably toughened its stance towards him. Taking a strong approach towards China has become a rare point of agreement in the increasingly divided politics of the host country.
And these negative sentiments are reciprocated. In Beijing, officials who have long harbored doubts about America's intentions and resented its influence now feel justified in their belief that the US is actively seeking to restrain and repress China.
Much has transpired between Xi's two visits, with a fierce trade war, a worldwide pandemic, and an intense conflict in Europe, all inflicting significant damage on the US-China relationship, which has vastly deteriorated to its most dismal state in decades.
On April 6, 2017, Chinese leader Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan were welcomed by former US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.
The trade dispute that initially began during the Trump era has expanded into various other domains, including technology, national security, geopolitics, and the global order. These competitions have become even more intense under the current Biden administration.
In August of last year, the relationship between the two countries reached a new low when Beijing severed important communication channels with Washington in response to a top-level American visit to Taiwan. Efforts to reestablish dialogue were further hindered in February of this year due to the alleged shooting down of a Chinese surveillance balloon over US airspace.
The US has been making efforts for several months to establish communication with its primary strategic competitor. This involved sending four high-ranking government officials to Beijing during a busy summer in the Chinese capital.
Beijing has maintained a composed stance throughout this period. However, when Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently visited Washington DC, which was seen as a positive indication for the Xi-Biden summit, he cautioned Americans by stating that "the journey to San Francisco will not be without difficulties."
The setting of the meeting is significant, apart from the arduous journey to reach it. Xi, along with approximately twenty world leaders, will be attending the APEC summit in the US this week. The summit, unlike the casual meeting at Trump's private residence in 2017, is characterized by a greater level of formality and focus on business matters.
According to Yun Sun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center think tank in Washington, the purpose of the Mar-a-Lago summit was to establish a personal connection between the parties involved. "At that time, the US-China relationship hadn't deteriorated significantly," Sun explained. "During the visit, the Chinese still had aspirations for diplomatic leadership and the potential for a positive relationship."
Xi and Biden had already developed a friendship over the course of ten years, during which they had spent numerous hours together in both the United States and China. Prior to Biden assuming the presidency, they met as state leaders for the first time at last year's G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia.
China's late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping (left), donning a cowboy hat, applauds at a Houston rodeo during a visit to the United States in 1979.
Wally McNamee/Corbis/Getty Images
Diplomacy with personal touch
Diplomacy with a personal touch has been a central feature in visits by Chinese leaders to the US.
Upon the reestablishment of diplomatic relations in 1979, US President Jimmy Carter extended an invitation to China's paramount leader Deng Xiaoping, marking a significant milestone in bilateral relations. During Deng's visit to the United States, both leaders forged a strong personal bond. In his personal diary, Carter vividly depicted Deng as a remarkably astute, resilient, and forthright individual, while also noting his exceptional courage, charm, self-confidence, and amicability. Carter considered Deng's visit to be among the most enjoyable and gratifying experiences of his presidency.
On that journey, the Chinese Communist leader gained fame by proudly wearing a 10-gallon cowboy hat at a Texas rodeo, creating a memorable moment that entranced the American public.
Jiang Zemin, who succeeded Deng, was renowned for his vibrant persona and numerous musical abilities. He frequently astounded his American hosts by spontaneously bursting into song and dance performances.
During his inaugural trip to the United States in 1997, which marked the first visit by a Chinese leader following the Tiananmen Square massacre, Jiang sought to soften his public persona. He achieved this by showcasing his talent in Peking opera during a grand banquet held in California, while also charmingly playing the ukulele at a dinner event in Hawaii.
Approximately five years later, President George W. Bush extended an invitation to Jiang, welcoming him to his ranch in Texas prior to their joint participation in the APEC summit held in Mexico.
Xi met President Barack Obama for the first time in 2013 at Sunnylands, a luxurious desert retreat in California. They walked and talked on a well-maintained lawn and crossed a small bridge, projecting a relaxed and personal approach. Reflecting the informal setting, both leaders opted to leave their ties and suit jackets behind. Obama described the summit as "terrific" upon its conclusion.
The viral images of Xi and Obama alongside Winnie the Pooh and Tigger during their friendly stroll at Sunnylands led to the unexpected censorship of the beloved bear in China. This type of personal diplomacy is seen as crucial in shaping and strengthening the relationship between leaders.
"But I believe we have moved beyond that phase. It is difficult for me to envision Biden extending an invitation to Xi Jinping for a personal visit to his own residence," she expressed.
"San Francisco will be focused on business matters and uphold a highly formal atmosphere."
Former US President Barack Obama and Chinese leader Xi Jinping chat as they take a walk at the Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage, California, on June 8, 2013.
Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images
Disillusionment grows
Several years into Xi's presidency, American officials started recognizing the unreliability of the promises made by Chinese leaders in personal diplomatic engagements.
A significant cause of concern arose from Xi's 2015 assurance, made during a US state visit, where he pledged not to "militarize" the South China Sea. Unfortunately, his subsequent actions sharply contradicted this commitment.
The Obama administration's four-year duration greatly impacted American confidence regarding China's behavior under Xi, causing extensive damage, according to Sun. It is worth mentioning that Xi's visit to Mar-a-Lago occurred just three months after Trump took office, aiming to establish an early positive relationship with him and maintain the momentum, as per Suisheng Zhao, the director of the Center for China-US Cooperation at the University of Denver.
"But Trump is a totally different animal."
Within months Trump was accusing China of doing "NOTHING" to thwart North Koreas quest for nuclear weapons and soon after that the trade war began.
"Now, we find ourselves in a situation where trust has been greatly compromised on both sides, and it is becoming increasingly evident that our national interests are fundamentally divergent," commented Sun.
Xi Jinping, then 31 years old, poses for photos in front of the Golden Gate Bridge as he visits San Francisco in 1985.
Xinhua/Newscom
Iowa farms, Golden Gate portrait
This weeks visit will be Xis fifth trip to America as Chinas top leader, and the tenth US trip in his life.
Xi made his inaugural visit to the US in 1985 at the age of 31, marking his first venture beyond Chinese borders. At the time, he was a relatively unknown figure, serving as the party leader of a destitute county in the central Henan province. Leading a small agricultural team of five, he embarked on a mission to study farming techniques and animal husbandry in Iowa. During his visit, he had the opportunity to explore local farms, enjoy a picnic on a Mississippi River cruise, and reside with an American family.
During the trip, Xi also visited San Francisco and had a photo taken in front of the famous Golden Gate Bridge. Over the following decades, Xi made four more visits to the US before assuming power in late 2012.
Chinese official propaganda frequently showcased these visits as a demonstration of the enduring and profound friendship between the US and China, until bilateral relations swiftly deteriorated. It is difficult for experts to determine the extent to which Xi's initial visits to the US influenced his perceptions of America.
According to Zhao, an academic at the University of Denver, Xi's personal experience is unlikely to have a significant impact. "If he were an ordinary person and not the influential leader he is today, his thinking might have been influenced," Zhao explained.
Sun, on the other hand, believes that despite Xi's efforts to portray himself as a prominent statesman, he is primarily focused on domestic politics.
I am uncertain whether Xi Jinping's previous visits to the United States significantly influenced his foreign policy. In my opinion, his foreign policy approach is determined by his domestic political style, which can be summarized as "I hold the ultimate power and make all the decisions."
Reported by Simone McCarthy of CNN.
