A Diplomatic Facade: What Really Matters in Trump Xi Meeting As President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping exchanged pleasantries at their recent meeting, many hailed it as a breakthrough in Sino American relations.
However, the world should be cautious not to read too much into this diplomatic charade. Richard Haass, a longtime U. S. diplomat, was among the first to offer his assessment, calling the cordial summit a "good sign.
" His optimism might be well intentioned, but it glosses over the fundamental issue: the two leaders' vastly different priorities are still in direct conflict.