Trump returns from China summit with trade deals but Taiwan questions persist

US President Donald Trump has returned from his two-day summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing, bringing home modest but tangible achievements in trade relations. China agreed to purchase 200 Boeing aircraft and General Electric engines, while both countries committed to reducing tariffs on certain goods. However, Trump's characterization of Taiwan arms sales as a "very good negotiating chip" has heightened concerns on the democratic island.

The summit's most concrete outcome was confirmation of a substantial aircraft deal. Boeing confirmed China's commitment to purchasing 200 aircraft - a significant order for the American aerospace giant, whose last order from China dated back to 2017. Additionally, General Electric secured engine contracts. These deals signal a return to normal business relations following last year's trade war.

Alongside the aircraft agreements, both sides reached an understanding on tariff reductions for certain goods to promote bilateral trade, according to China's Ministry of Commerce. Specific details about these tariff cuts and which product categories are affected were not immediately disclosed. This agreement marks another step toward de-escalation after the extreme trade tensions that overshadowed Trump's second term.

Particularly controversial were Trump's statements regarding Taiwan. In a Fox News interview aired after his China visit, Trump described arms sales to Taiwan as a "very good negotiating chip" in dealings with China. This characterization intensified anxieties on the island, which China considers a breakaway province and seeks to reclaim. A potential $14 billion weapons package for Taiwan remains uncertain following the summit.

Trump's UN envoy emphasized after the summit that the United States had made no new commitments regarding Taiwan's status and continued to support the status quo. Trump himself referenced the geographical challenges of America's position, explaining that the US is "9,500 miles away from Taiwan," highlighting the practical difficulties of military support.

In a remarkably candid moment, Trump also confirmed mutual espionage activities between both countries. When asked about Chinese cyberattacks, he responded that he had discussed this with Xi, but China had also raised American attacks in China. "What they do, we do too," Trump explained, adding: "We spy like hell on them."

Observers view the summit as a return to the "familiar standoff" between the two superpowers, offering some stability after last year's extreme trade tensions. While the United States continues to view China's trade policies and military ambitions in the Indo-Pacific critically, China benefits from the normalization of relations after the turbulent months of trade war.

However, the strategic competition between both countries remains unchanged. Fundamental disagreements over Taiwan, trade balance, and regional spheres of influence were not resolved by the summit. The modest results align with typical standards of US-China summits, where concrete breakthroughs are rare.

The geopolitical dimension is underscored by the announcement that Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to Beijing next week to meet with Xi Jinping. This encounter, occurring just days after Trump's visit, illustrates the complex triangular relationships between the three major powers and could introduce new dynamics into US-China relations.

The summit's outcomes reflect the current state of US-China relations - neither the dramatic confrontation of the trade war period nor the cooperative partnership that some had hoped for. Instead, both countries appear to have settled into a managed competition that allows for selective cooperation on economic issues while fundamental strategic disagreements persist. This approach may provide short-term stability but leaves longer-term questions about Taiwan, regional security, and economic competition unresolved.