<\/p>\n
Renee Parsons<\/p>\n
Given President Donald Trump\u2019s expectations for a successful high stakes meeting on trade, AI and rare earth minerals during his first bilateral summit to China in nine years, he was accompanied by more than a dozen of the World\u2019s Greatest Businessmen\/women<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Prior to departure for China, President Trump had said that\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cXi Jinping will NOT touch Taiwan while he\u2019s in the White House\u201d <\/i>while just ahead of liftoff, a bipartisan group of Senators forwarded a letter<\/span><\/a> to the President.<\/p>\n The letter suggested they had unrealistically high expectations for the President to\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cmake clear that America\u2019s support for Taiwan is inviolable<\/i>\u201d and went on to suggest that \u201cYou can make clear to Beijing that as you seek to level the economic playing field, American support for Taiwan is not up for negotiation<\/i>.\u201d \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In addition, the letter requested that the President \u201d formally notify the $14 billion in U.S. arms sales to Taiwan that Congress pre-approved in January 2025<\/i>\u201d as if the risk of US intervention in Taiwan would be applicable at that moment.\u00a0 <\/span>The letter was signed by six Democratic Senators and two Republicans.<\/p>\n What is more than incredulous is that six senior US Senators would believe it appropriate for the President, on his way into a highly sensitive, political – diplomatic Summit with the world\u2019s most prominent economic and political dignitary, to pressure his host with accusations in support of Taiwan while debating Chinese \u201caggression.<\/i>\u201d<\/p>\n Wisely, as far as is known, the President did not present the letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping or his representative nor do we know if Trump who is not known for his analytical standards, even read the letter.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Meanwhile, upon the arrival of Air Force One<\/span><\/a>, Chinese President Xi was not in attendance as several low level diplomats were on hand to greet the US President as well as hundreds of cheering Chinese school girls<\/span><\/a> similar to the same age as the 170 school girls<\/span><\/a> killed in Iran on the first day of the Iran war. \u00a0 <\/span>Trump missed that the Chinese have subtle ways of communicating or making their point.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As the Chinese and US diplomatic parties united for their first meeting, President Xi \u2018s opening statement<\/span><\/a> expressed\u00a0 <\/span>the \u201cwhole world is watching as currently transformation not seen in a century is accelerating across the globe; the\u00a0 <\/span>international world is turbulent and fluid\u201d <\/i>with Xi asking \u201cCan China and US overcome <\/i>Thucydides<\/i><\/span><\/a> trap and create a new paradigm in major country relations<\/i>\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cCan we meet global challenges together and provide more stability for the world;\u2019<\/i> \u2018 we should be partners, not rivals.\u2019<\/i><\/p>\n Privately Xi reminded Trump that \u201cmishandling<\/i>\u2019 Taiwan <\/i>\u201ccould lead to clashes or even a conflict<\/i>\u201d.<\/p>\n Inappropriately seated at Trump\u2019s elbow at the table were his contentious US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and equally contentious White House Advisor Steven Miller. \u00a0 <\/span>It was not clear that Trump understood Xi\u2019s reference to Thucydides.\u00a0 <\/span>Its history was later explained as it applied to ensuing difficulties arising from one nation\u2019s challenge to oust an established sitting power.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To his credit, Trump took the occasion to respond in an uncharacteristically positive and more cordial manner, with compliments in a constructive fashion<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n Trump responded to his greeting at the airport that he\u00a0 <\/span>was \u201cEspecially impressed by those children, they were happy, they were beautiful, those children were amazing\u00a0 <\/span>and they represent so much to you.\u201d \u00a0 <\/span><\/i>It is doubtful that Trump\u2019s lack of personal savvy ever made the connection as Xi smiled and nodded.<\/p>\n Leaving the essential question unanswered whether Trump has the required political sophistication or skill to appropriately deal on sensitive foreign policy affairs with Xi who is a true, master statesman.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Meanwhile, back in DC, the US Senate was debating its seventh resolution to adopt the War Powers Act offered by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.<\/p>\n Despite 61% of Americans<\/span><\/a> opposed to Trump\u2019s Unconstitutional war of aggression, the Resolution was defeated in a 49-50 vote<\/span><\/a> with one Democrat voting No and four Republicans voting in support of\u00a0 <\/span>War Powers. \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n