'Just Not Good Optics For Us': Gordon Chang Explains Why Trump Shouldn't Meet With Xi In Beijing

Added: 2026-05-07

[00:00:00]supposed to be in March. Now, it's in mid-May. So, China has had six extra weeks or so about to prepare. Plus, the war, based on President Trump's initial timeline, was supposed to be wrapped up by then. Because when President Trump announced um this war, he said it was going to be 4 to 6 weeks. That would have been well done by the time of May 14th and 15th.

[00:00:22]Do you think the war is still not having a deal in place, plus with this postponement, do you think that gives China extra leverage for going into the meeting?

[00:00:32]Um I don't think No, I actually don't think so. Um Trump right now is starving Iran. I mean, with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and with the US Navy chasing down vessels in the Indian Ocean. Um I think that that puts China in a very difficult position. Now, I don't think President Trump should go to Beijing. It is an enemy combatant. Um we are in the middle of a war, and our commander-in-chief should not go to China right now. Um I think that's elemental. That's the reason why he postponed the meeting that was supposed to start on March 31. Those reasons are still in place. Now, I'm sure he's going to go. We see all those US C-17s um landing in China. Um which is an obvious uh sign of preparation for the meeting. But, that's not to say this meeting should go forward on May 14th.

[00:01:27]Back in April, President Trump had an interview with Fox News, and he was talking about his relationship with President Xi, and he said it was really good. And he, apparently Trump, wrote him a letter asking him not to send Iran weapons. And Xi apparently replied that essentially he's not doing that. That's how President Trump characterized that response. You recently posted on social media urging President Trump to put Xi Jinping in his place. Based on that interview, and yes, I know it was just a few weeks ago, do you think that he will? How do you think he needs to go into this meeting?

[00:02:02]A great What a great question. Um I think President Trump needs to take a very hard line if he goes forward with this summit. Um because, you know, President Trump has this notion, which is very American, that, you know, if we're friendly to China, China will be friendly to us. But, that's not the case. China has traditionally seen signs of friendship as signals of weakness. Um and and just in general, Britney, whenever a foreign leader visits uh China, they always see it as a vassal paying homage to the grand celestial court. That's just in general. Forget about the Iran war. Forget about Trump.

[00:02:40]Forget about America. That's just the way the Chinese view this, and that's the way they will portray it. That, you know, Trump needing China's help in the middle of a war. Um I'm I'm sure Trump doesn't view it that way. Um but, that's the way that China will play it, and that's the way a lot of people will see it. So, this is just not good optics for us.

[00:03:01]That's not to say China has more leverage. It just means means to say China shouldn't uh Trump shouldn't be doing this at this particular time, and maybe never.

[00:03:12]And then, this all comes as Beijing ordered Chinese refiners accused of purchasing Iranian oil to defy US sanctions. What message do you think that's sending, especially a week out from this meeting?

[00:03:26]Oh, Xi Jinping is making it very clear that uh he is not going to be friendly to President Trump. That's um the retort That's the metaphorical middle finger. Um and Trump needs to respond. If he doesn't respond, people will see that Trump is weak and that he's asking for Beijing's help, and that uh Xi Jinping can do whatever he wants, and Trump will just take it.

[00:03:50]Um and that message will resonate. Um so, Trump needs to uh do something. And the something is probably um something he should have done a long time.

[00:04:00]Something that Biden should have done a long time. Something that Trump before him should have done, and before that, and that is to stop the Chinese using um their dollar accounts in New York to launder money for drug cartels and for other illicit purposes. Uh President Trump should have Secretary Mnuchin invoke Section 311 of the USA Patriot Act to say that these Chinese banks are primary money laundering concern, and therefore disconnecting their dollar accounts in New York. Um there have been repeated warnings from Treasury secretaries to the Chinese, including Secretary Mnuchin 3 or 4 days ago. Um in some some point, we've got to actually go forward and do that. Now, Trump did that in I think it was June 2017 with the Bank of Dandong, which was laundering North Korea's money. Um but uh Trump didn't then go after China's big four banks, big five banks, for doing the same thing, because he was worried about the fallout on the global financial system. Um but now, we have got to start enforcing US law. China does not have a or shouldn't have a free pass to violate US law because it feels like it. The United States should enforce its laws. If the United States doesn't want to enforce its laws, it should repeal them. But, nobody nobody gets to violate US law, and President Trump needs to start enforcing it. I remember that on January 20, you know, last year, he took an oath to enforce US laws faithfully. He needs to do that.