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Editorial | Xi’s same-day calls with Trump and Putin showcase head-of-state diplomacy
At a time of geopolitical uncertainty, the extraordinary back-to-back conversations with the leaders of Russia and the US highlight Xi’s diplomatic approach
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When it comes to guiding China’s most important foreign relations and its international strategy, President Xi Jinping is known to favour head-of-state diplomacy – direct personal contact with his counterparts – as well as using diplomatic channels. This week has seen an extraordinary example of this: Xi’s video call with Russian President Vladimir Putin was followed in quick succession by a phone call with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday.
After the official readouts, some of the details of the calls may remain the subject of speculation. However, the conversations took place against the backdrop of momentous issues and geopolitical uncertainty, including around the expiry this week of the world’s last nuclear arms control treaty between the United States and Russia, Washington’s proposed arms sale to Taiwan, the US takeover of Venezuela after abducting its president, the Ukraine war, and crucial US nuclear de-escalation talks with Iran in Oman after Iranian political protests were suppressed.
China had appealed to the US to agree to Russia’s offer to extend the nuclear treaty amid fears of a new arms race.
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Suffice to say, the Xi-Trump phone call was very important, not least because of its timing. Two issues immediately stand out: America’s proposed US$11 billion arms sale to Taiwan and China’s imports of agricultural and energy products from the US. The latter is seen as important to Trump’s midterm election prospects while reunion with Taiwan remains the core of core issues for Beijing. In this regard, political obstacles in Taipei to the US arms deal may suit both sides.
According to state news agency Xinhua, Xi told Trump the US “must handle the issue of arms sales to the island with prudence”, stressing that “the Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations”.
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Looking forward to positive developments, Xi noted that China will kick off its 15th five-year plan, to be formally approved soon at the “two sessions” of China’s parliament, while the US celebrates this year the 250th anniversary of the country’s founding.
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