Can Donald Trump’s gut instinct win over Xi Jinping at Apec summit?

US President Donald Trump is expected to approach his coming summit with Xi Jinping by relying on personal chemistry and his “gut”, but his ability to charm the Chinese leader will be limited at best, analysts and former government officials in Washington said on Tuesday.

The first meeting in six years between the heads of the world’s two largest economies is expected to take place shortly before the October 31-November 1 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in South Korea. Among the topics on the radar in their high-stakes summit include rare earth minerals, tariffs, export controls, soybean purchases and Taiwan.

“I’ve never encountered anyone as cold blooded in their calculations of national or personal interest as Xi Jinping,” said Ryan Hass, former China director with the National Security Council during the administration of US President Joe Biden.

“And I don’t expect that that’s going to change any time soon,” added Hass, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. “He’s not emotionally soft. He’s not easily swayed by charm. And I think that we should take that into account.”

Trump said within a 24-hour period he expected to seal a “fantastic” and “good” and “fair” trade deal with Xi even as he warned that the sit-down might be put off. “I think we’re going to have a very successful meeting,” he said at a White House lunch before pivoting. “Maybe it won’t happen,” he added. “Maybe somebody will say, ‘I don’t want to meet. It’s too nasty’. But it’s really not nasty.”

Trump downplays Taiwan dispute in China talks

Trump has long touted the perceived power of his intuition, brushing aside the need for preparation or groundwork in business and state affairs, an approach he believes puts opponents on the defensive.

South China Morning Post