US President Donald Trump's long-awaited China trip is not expected to happen in September, even though there were previous reports that he would be present at Beijing's Victory Parade on September 3 marking the 80th anniversary of the Japanese surrender at the end of World War II. People close to the situation now say that both countries are planning to schedule the visit sometime in October or November, possibly coinciding with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea.
It is being seriously considered, according to sources, that Trump visit Beijing either prior to or subsequent to APEC which will be held between October 30 and November 1. The other possibility involves Trump meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping on the margins of the summit. Despite the logistical and diplomatic challenges, officials on both sides have reportedly "shared a consensus" on the necessity for top-level interaction.
Positive Signs from Diplomatic Talks
One of the milestone steps toward the envisioned visit was the recently held meeting of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Kuala Lumpur. It was their first face-to-face meeting and was termed by both sides as "better than expected," setting the stage for future summits.
In spite of continuing sanctions against Rubio initially laid out by China in 2020 when he was still a US senator indications are that Beijing may pursue a more pragmatic stance to enable top-level diplomacy. Some experts feel that China could permit Rubio's visit even with the sanctions, particularly if he takes a positive part in enhancing bilateral relations.
Sanctions and Diplomatic Flexibility
Rubio continues to be sanctioned for his earlier condemnation of China's Xinjiang and Hong Kong policies. Yet Chinese officials and experts counter that the sanctions, while idealistic, are in fact "technical" and may be waived at the discretion of diplomats. Wu Xinbo at Fudan University observed that if Rubio can be a positive force in US-China relations, Beijing might then "turn the page.
Such cases have happened, with China this year removing sanctions against former EU politicians to reset relations with Europe. The move is said to be a pragmatic approach by Beijing to stabilize relations and get back to meaningful cooperation.
Trump will also be attending the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue summit in India later this year, offering additional chances for regional diplomacy. As Beijing and Washington make preparations for potential leader-level meetings, both sides seem to be moving past confrontations and pursuing a new period of engagement centered on trade, security, and diplomatic ties.
