NYT: Xi Jinping's soft power tactics at meeting with Trump

The line of behavior used by Chinese President Xi Jinping at a meeting with US President Donald Trump can be called “soft power” tactics, writes The New York Times (NYT), pointing out that although the Chinese leader demonstrated openness and warmth uncharacteristic of contacts between the heads of two rival superpowers, smiling and making compliments, “behind this outward goodwill there was a colder calculation.”

Xi Jinping’s carefully weighed words and the “tricks” he used showed a desire to persuade his interlocutor to support Beijing’s position on issues of Taiwan, Japan and the overall security system in Asia, the NYT authors believe.

From the point of view of former Deputy National Security Advisor to the US President Matt Pottinger, whose opinion they refer to, the Chinese leader “appears to have been trying to find opportunities to influence Trump’s views, rather than counting on any decisive breakthrough.” “Xi Jinping views frequent meetings with his American counterpart as an opportunity to identify weaknesses in the US position,” the expert suggested.

Externally, the summit did not bring significant results, the publication states. At the same time, both politicians, judging by their statements, were satisfied with the results. Thus, the President of the United States emphasized that the meeting was very productive and promised that in the future “amazing things will happen” in this regard.