Trump-Xi summit in Washington: Why Beijing may see it as a victory

SINGAPORE, 26 SEPTEMBER 2026 —

Trump-Xi Summit in Washington: How Beijing Secures Stability Amid US Unpredictability

The one-day summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington last Thursday delivered no major policy breakthroughs, but analysts say Beijing’s absence of new US restrictions on trade, technology, or Taiwan marks a tactical victory—one that hinges on the two leaders’ deepening personal rapport to temper Washington’s volatility.

While the meeting produced no immediate concessions on China’s core demands—such as opposition to Taiwan independence or easing of semiconductor export controls—its significance lies in the lack of escalation. With US Congress pushing for harder lines on Beijing, Xi’s strategy appears to be managing Trump’s unpredictability through direct engagement, ensuring that bilateral relations do not derail into fresh hostilities before the end of the president’s term in 2025.

---

The summit’s most tangible outcome was Xi’s public reinforcement of his "good relationship" with Trump, a dynamic that analysts say limits Beijing’s exposure to sudden US policy shifts.

In remarks at the White House, Xi framed the US-China relationship as a "healthy competition" rather than a zero-sum struggle, urging both sides to "steer the giant ship of China-US relations on a steady course." His phrasing echoed the May summit in Beijing, where the two leaders agreed to pursue "constructive strategic stability"—a deliberate effort to depoliticize economic and security tensions.

Jia Qingguo, a professor and former dean of Peking University’s School of International Studies, dismissed criticism that the September meeting lacked substance, arguing that symbolic gestures—like Trump reciprocating Xi’s hospitality in Beijing—carry real weight. "This may appear superficial, but in reality, it is something concrete," Jia told The Straits Times.

He praised Trump’s ability to maintain rapport with Xi despite resistance from hardline factions in Washington, where figures like House Speaker Mike Johnson have called for stricter measures on China, including tariffs and semiconductor bans.

China’s approach is pragmatic, Jia acknowledged. "We are essentially still in the process of establishing stability," he said, noting that Beijing does not expect dramatic shifts but instead focuses on incremental progress. The absence of US opposition to Taiwan independence—despite China’s repeated demands—was a rare diplomatic win, though analysts stress that structural issues remain unresolved.

The US has not altered its "one China" policy, but Trump’s repeated delays in approving a proposed US$14 billion arms package to Taiwan suggest Beijing’s influence in keeping the issue dormant.

---

The summit’s limitations were evident in the absence of progress on trade, where the US extended a tariff truce by just two months—far shorter than the end-of-term extension China reportedly sought. The truce, set to expire on November 10, now runs until January 1, 2025, a move that disappointed Beijing. "I’m sure the Chinese will be disappointed," said Dr. Hoo Tiang Boon, a US-China relations expert at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University.

"What China means by stability is to have a certain understanding of what to expect, in order to minimize the potential damage of any American policy during Trump’s term."

Hoo cautioned that stability does not mean resolution. Since the May summit, the US has imposed new restrictions, including a July ban by the Federal Communications Commission on imports of foreign-made humanoid robots on national security grounds. Beijing’s strategy, he said, is to "ride out Trump’s term" while mitigating risks. "China is under no illusions that having a few summits with Trump will make fundamental disagreements disappear," Hoo added.

Yet the absence of new tariffs or sanctions suggests that Trump’s personal diplomacy—combined with congressional gridlock—has created a window for Beijing to avoid immediate economic shocks. Huang Chin-Hao, an associate professor at Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, noted that future breakthroughs could emerge in sector-specific trade barriers, such as US demands for greater access to rare earth materials or assurances on supply chain stability.

However, any concessions from Washington would likely require reciprocal moves from China, a prospect that remains uncertain.

---

On Taiwan, Beijing’s gains are subtler but no less significant. Shen Dingli, a Shanghai-based international relations scholar, argued that the Trump-Xi rapport has effectively delayed US arms sales to Taiwan, at least until after the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen in November.

Trump, Shen noted, has repeatedly postponed signing off on the US$14 billion package, and with Xi expected to attend the G20 summit in Miami in December, the timing suggests a deliberate avoidance of escalation. "Relations between nations hinge on personal affinity," Shen said. "When two leaders meet frequently, it becomes awkward to engage in hostile acts."

Shen’s optimism hinges on sustained high-level engagement. He hopes Xi and Trump will visit each other’s countries annually until 2025, arguing that such exchanges create incentives to avoid confrontations. "I hope that over the next two years, President Xi visits the US annually and Trump visits China annually," he said. "That way, both sides will strive to eliminate obstacles to facilitate these exchanges."

---

For Malaysia and the broader region, the Trump-Xi summit’s implications are mixed. While the absence of new US restrictions on China reduces immediate economic risks—particularly in technology and trade—the lack of substantive progress leaves unresolved tensions that could resurface under a future US administration. Malaysia’s tech and semiconductor sectors, which rely on global supply chains, may benefit from continued stability, but any sudden US-China decoupling could disrupt exports, particularly in electronics.

Regionally, the summit shows the limits of personal diplomacy in addressing structural issues, such as China’s military posturing in the South China Sea or US alliances with ASEAN partners like the Philippines and Vietnam. The US$14 billion Taiwan arms package, though delayed, remains a wild card, and any approval could strain China’s patience.

Meanwhile, the two-month tariff extension offers temporary relief but does little to address deeper trade imbalances that could resurface if Trump faces reelection pressures.

The most immediate takeaway for Asia is that Beijing’s strategy of managing rather than resolving disputes with Washington has, for now, paid off. The absence of new US actions—whether on Taiwan, semiconductors, or tariffs—suggests that Xi’s bet on Trump’s personal diplomacy has bought China time. But with the US election looming in November 2024, the question remains whether this stability can outlast Trump’s presidency—or if the next administration will reset the relationship entirely.