Unpacking the Trump-Xi Summit

Summits between US and Chinese leaders are important events. They provide opportunities to discuss sensitive issues, manage friction, and to identify ways to solve problems and promote cooperation where possible. A great deal of preparation usually goes into a US-China summit, involving hundreds of phone calls, virtual, and in-person meetings between US and Chinese officials.  

The May 14-15 summit in Beijing was atypical, perhaps not surprisingly since Donald Trump is a very atypical president. Today we are going to talk about the summit – the process and well as the outcomes and the implications for the US-China relationship and American interests.

Joining us today to talk about these issues is Sarah Beran. Sarah Beran was senior director for China and Taiwan affairs in the National Security Council during the Biden administration from 2022 to 2024. She was subsequently deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy in Beijing. At the NSC, she led strategic preparations for multiple summits between President Joe Biden and Xi Jinping. After her 23 years in government service, Sarah joined Macro Advisory Partners.

Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction
[01:45] Differences in Preparing for the Summit
[03:33] What Was Missing from Trump’s Itinerary
[08:18] US and Chinese Objectives for the Summit
[12:30] Constructive Strategic Stability as a Framework
[18:09] Iran, North Korea, and Denuclearization in Chinese Policy
[23:55] Tension over Taiwan Language
[29:15] Potential Reactions to Trump Calling President Lai
[30:12] Future of US-China Relations and Ally Reactions