TOI correspondent from Washington: If diplomacy is the art of keeping a straight face, China’s leader Xi Jinping won hands down during the opening act on Thursday at Andrews Air Force Base where US President Donald Trump received him on a state visit.For a fleeting moment, the changing balance of the US-China relationship was captured not in a joint communique, but in a visual metaphor. As American bombers roared overhead in a flypast intended to wow the visitor, it was Trump who winced, while Xi watched impassively — an unintended piece of geopolitical choreography more eloquent than any statement.Beyond those few revealing seconds, there were other cues that pointed to the new phase of the relationship that indicated China is seen as a peer, even as some pundits believe it is starting to eclipse America. The Chinese president received something few recalled in living memory — a planeside red carpet welcome that saw Trump himself waiting at the foot of the stairway, a presidential gesture so rare that historians recalled Prez Kennedy welcoming British PM Harold Macmillan at an airport in 1962 as the last comparable instance.“I met President Xi at the plane (Airport!) yesterday and he looks strong, vibrant, and fit – Better than ever. Madam Xi, of course, BEAUTIFUL! “ Trump said later on his social media platform, laying it on thick. All this is remarkable coming from a man who roasted Barack Obama in 2012 for giving then Xi a ceremonial welcome. “So wrong! @BarackObama is hosting China’s VP Xi Jinping today at the Pentagon with a full honor ceremony with music and cannons…” Trump had tweeted.And Washington did not merely roll out the red carpet. It literally measured it, ironed it and, according to one wag, made sure Xi’s shoes would not gather any dust. It also announced that the two sides have agreed to extend their trade truce till January, removing at least one immediate irritant before the summit, despite Trump having signed a bill that will empower him to impose100 percent tariff on countries — notably China and India — buying Russian energy.More pomp and pageantry is to follow over the next 48 hours with a ceremonial welcome at the White House followed by a banquet and a private tea party involving the first couples. In fact, Trump appears so anxious to court China that he has even deployed First Lady Melania Trump – who has maintained a relatively low public profile for long stretches of the second Trump presidency – for a starring diplomatic role. She was at the airbase with Trump and will host Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan separately, including a visit to the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art. On Friday, the presidential couples are scheduled for private tea before visiting the National Archives, where they will review archival material on US-China ties.The First Lady herself offered the philosophy behind the extravaganza on Fox & Friends, saying, “He’s coming on our soil, and we need to welcome them with the most respect.” The White House later released details of Thursday’s banquet, revealing that the First Lady led the preparations for the dinner. On the menu, “American ingredients with subtle Chinese influence, bringing the culinary traditions of both nations together” – including a toast of Schramsberg “Blanc De Noir,” honoring the historic “Toast to Peace” shared by President Nixon and Premier Zhou Enlai in Beijing in 1972.Not everyone from the Trump universe is in tune with the over-the-top welcome. “China should be held accountable for disrespecting President Trump and our country. For stealing an election. For murdering 1.2 million Americans. For helping Iran kill American service members,” raged Laura Loomer, a Trump whisperer who has the President’s ear, fuming that “the hospitality is way more than Xi deserves.” But a more sobering perspective came from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who asserted that it would be irresponsible not to engage Beijing at the highest level despite differences. “The relationship between the United States and China will define the 21st century,” Rubio said, echoing words that the US till recently had used for its ties with India, which is probably watching the scenario with consternation.Still, there are many skeptics in the global commentariat who think Trump may have overplayed the welcome.”Greeting him personally is a real gamble, because Trump spent his own leverage before the talking started, and the list he needs to work through is long: fentanyl, tariffs, chips, rare earths, and China’s role in both Ukraine and Iran,” noted popular podcast host Mario Nawfal. “If he (Xi) walks away from three days of pageantry without a single commitment, Beijing got the photographs for free,” he added.
