Trump shifts from confrontation to flattery in Xi meeting

Chinese state media has extensively broadcast President Xi Jinping's recent visit to Washington, framing it as a display of his global significance. The coverage highlights a shift in Donald Trump's approach toward Xi, moving from confrontation to overt flattery, a change that benefits the Chinese leader. Trump's initial hardline stance, including tariffs up to 145 percent on Chinese goods, was countered by China's export restrictions on rare earth minerals vital to US military technology. Since then, Trump has adopted a friendlier public posture, though analysts note both leaders remain fundamentally adversarial beneath the surface, with Xi viewing Trump as a tool to influence US policy on Taiwan. The Washington meeting yielded little beyond a short truce extension in the trade war, leaving tensions unresolved on issues like Taiwan, AI, and semiconductors. Xi is reportedly confident that time favors China, as its domestic industries advance, though he faces significant challenges in boosting confidence in his own country's struggling economy.