Trump to meet with Xi Jinping at Mar-a-Lago this week
President Trump is scheduled to meet with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping at his Mar-a-Lago resort on April 6 and 7.
Their meeting comes after months of ramped-up tensions between the two powers. Mr. Trump described China as a 鈥�currency manipulator鈥� during the campaign, and further angered the country by accepting a congratulatory phone call from Taiwan鈥檚 president after his election, in violation of the 鈥淥ne China鈥� policy that the United States government has maintained since 1979. On top of these barbs, other recent developments, such as the deployment of a US missile-defense system in South Korea, have worsened tensions further.
Now, some decisionmakers are calling for a change in tone. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang recently underscored the strong economic linkages between the two nations, "interests between our two countries are structured so that you will always have me and I will always have you.鈥�
Meanwhile, The New York Times reported that Trump鈥檚 son-in-law, Jared Kushner, had 鈥溾�� on China relations, and was 鈥渉eavily involved in planning the presidential visit.鈥�
While analysts don鈥檛 expect this visit to resolve the tangle of disagreements between the US and China, the first face-to-face meeting between Trump and Mr. Xi 鈥� where they are expected to discuss trade, North Korea, and other issues 鈥� could help them establish a working relationship.
The site seems to have been selected with this goal in mind. 鈥淐hina had pushed for the of a meeting at Mr. Trump鈥檚 resort, rather than at the White House,鈥� reports聽The New York Times.聽
Past presidents have also found it useful to take delicate international negotiations outside the Beltway. Former President Barrack Obama and Xi at southern California鈥檚 Sunnylands estate in 2013; both Mr. Obama and his predecessors also hosted foreign leaders at in central Maryland.
But Trump that he prefers palatial Mar-a-Lago, spending five weekends there since his inauguration. The costs of these visits have drawn sharp criticism, with The Washington Post estimating that the first three trips alone in security and logistical expenses. 聽
Nor may it be well suited for all occasions. During Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe鈥檚 February visit, he and Trump in full view of other resort guests.
But this high-publicity visit may have also set an expectation that Mar-a-Lago is聽Trump鈥檚 preferred destination of choice for international meetings. Now, in a moment of growing tensions, the Chinese seem to be seeking the same treatment.
