26.6.4 Trump offers platitudes while Xi warns of possible confrontation

[김상태]

트럼프는 상투적인 발언을 늘어놓는 반면, 시진핑은 중국 정상회담에서 잠재적 대립 가능성을 경고했다

BEIJING — Chinese leader Xi Jinping offered stark warnings about avoiding possible clashes between his nation and the U.S. on Thursday and even cautioned visiting President Donald Trump that Washington’s handling of its relations with Taiwan could lead to “conflicts” that might put “the entire relationship in great jeopardy.”

베이징 — 시진핑 중국 국가주석은 목요일 양국 간 잠재적 충돌을 피해야 한다고 강력히 경고했으며, 방중 중인 도널드 트럼프 대통령에게 미국의 대만 관계 처리가 “전체 양국 관계를 심각한 위험에 빠뜨릴 수 있는 ‘충돌’로 이어질 수 있다”고 일깨웠다.

The stern tone was a sharp contrast to Trump, who opened the highly anticipated summit with Xi by praising his Chinese counterpart and declaring that “it’s an honor to be your friend.”

이러한 단호한 어조는 시진핑 주석과의 대망의 정상회담을 시작하며 중국 측 지도자를 칭찬하고 “당신의 친구가 된 것을 영광으로 생각한다”고 선언했던 트럼프 대통령의 태도와 극명한 대조를 이뤘다.

The contrast underscored just how far apart the leaders remain on thorny issues including the war in Iran, trade disputes and Washington’s relationship with Taiwan — and suggested that Trump and Xi’s highly anticipated meetings are likely to be longer on pageantry and symbolism than major breakthroughs.

이러한 대조는 이란 전쟁, 무역 분쟁, 미국의 대만 관계 등 난제들에 대해 양국 정상 간의 견해 차이가 여전히 얼마나 큰지를 여실히 보여주었으며, 트럼프와 시진핑의 이번 회담이 중대한 돌파구보다는 화려한 의식과 상징성에 더 무게를 둘 가능성이 높음을 시사했다.

The pair met for about two hours behind closed doors at the Great Hall of the People and discussed trade and other issues.

두 사람은 인민대회당에서 약 2시간 동안 비공개 회담을 갖고 무역 및 기타 현안들을 논의했다.

According to a readout posted on X by Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, Xi told Trump that ” the Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-U.S. relations.

중국 외교부 대변인 마오닝이 X에 게시한 성명에 따르면, 시 주석은 트럼프 전 대통령에게 “대만 문제는 미중 관계에서 가장 중요한 사안이다.

If it is handled properly, the bilateral relationship will enjoy overall stability.

이 문제가 적절히 처리된다면 양국 관계는 전반적으로 안정될 것이다.

Otherwise, the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy.”

그렇지 않을 경우 양국은 마찰을 빚고 심지어 충돌까지 빚게 되어, 양국 관계 전체가 큰 위기에 처하게 될 것”이라고 말했다.

That followed Trump offering platitudes in brief comments before the meeting began.

이는 회의 시작 전 트럼프 대통령이 짧은 발언을 통해 상투적인 말을 늘어놓은 데 이어 나온 것이다.

The Republican president said of Xi, “You’re a great leader. Sometimes people don’t like me saying it, but I say it anyway, because it’s true.”

공화당 소속인 트럼프 대통령은 시진핑 주석에 대해 “당신은 훌륭한 지도자입니다. 때로는 사람들이 제가 이런 말을 하는 걸 좋아하지 않지만, 사실이기 때문에 어쨌든 말하겠습니다”라고 말했다.

“It’s an honor to be with you. It’s an honor to be your friend,” Trump said before promising that “the relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before.”

“당신과 함께하게 되어 영광입니다. 당신의 친구가 되어 영광입니다.”라고 트럼프 대통령은 말한 뒤, “중국과 미국의 관계는 그 어느 때보다 더 좋아질 것”이라고 약속했다.

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Xi was darker in his opening remarks, expressing hope that the U.S. and China can avoid conflict while saying that history and the world were asking “whether the two countries can transcend the ‘Thucydides Trap’ and forge a new model for relations between major powers.”

시 주석은 개회사를 통해 다소 어두운 어조를 보였으며, 미국과 중국이 갈등을 피할 수 있기를 희망한다고 밝히는 한편, 역사와 세계가 “양국이 ‘투키디데스의 덫’을 극복하고 강대국 간 관계의 새로운 모델을 구축할 수 있을지”를 묻고 있다고 말했다.

China's leader used a term popular in foreign policy studies, referring to the idea that when a rising power threatens to displace an established power, the result is often war.

중국 지도자는 외교 정책 연구 분야에서 흔히 쓰이는 용어를 인용하며, 신흥 강대국이 기존 강대국의 지위를 위협할 때 그 결과로 종종 전쟁이 발생한다는 개념을 언급했다.

“Cooperation benefits both sides, while confrontation harms both,” Xi said.

시 주석은 “협력은 양측 모두에게 이익이 되는 반면, 대립은 양측 모두에게 해가 된다”고 말했다.

“The two countries should be partners rather than rivals, achieve success together and pursue common prosperity, and chart a correct path for major-country relations in the new era.”

“양국은 경쟁자가 아닌 파트너가 되어 함께 성공을 거두고 공동의 번영을 추구하며, 신시대 강대국 관계의 올바른 길을 개척해야 한다.”

Xi has mentioned “Thucydides Trap” before with regards to U.S.-China relations, dating back to as early as 2014.

시 주석은 일찍이 2014년으로 거슬러 올라가는 이전에 이미 미중 관계와 관련해 “투키디데스의 덫”을 언급한 바 있다.

China's leader included it in his messages to Trump’s predecessor, Democratic President Joe Biden, in 2022 and 2024.

중국 지도자는 2022년과 2024년 트럼프 전 대통령의 후임인 민주당 조 바이든 대통령에게 보낸 메시지에도 이를 포함시켰다.

Comments follow elaborate welcome ceremony

The remarks from each followed a sweeping greeting for Trump outside the Great Hall of the People, an imposing building on Tiananmen Square that houses China’s legislature. Cannons boomed a welcome salute and a band played “The Star-Spangled Banner” and China's national anthem.

The hall featured giant, red-carpeted steps and huge expanses of marble, where soldiers hung large American and Chinese flags. School children in bright colors offered a welcome routine, jumping as the girls waved flowers and the boys hoisted American and Chinese flags while the two leaders walked past them.

Later, the Republican U.S. president is set to visit the Temple of Heaven, a religious complex dating to the 15th century that symbolizes the relationship between heaven and earth. Trump and Xi will also attend a state banquet.

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The White House has insisted that Trump wouldn't be making the trip without an eye toward securing results before he leaves — suggesting there could be announcements coming on trade, including a Chinese commitment to buy U.S. soybeans, beef and aircraft. Trump administration officials also want to work toward establishing a Board of Trade with China to address commercial differences between the countries.

But neither side has yet offered concrete details on what might come out of the three-day visit at a time when Beijing's close economic ties to Iran could complicate matters.

Economic questions still loom

Trump's trip comes as Iran continues to dominate his domestic agenda and stoke fears about the prospect of a weakening U.S. economy as the election season ahead of November's midterms — when Republicans will be looking to maintain control of Congress — begins heating up.

The U.S. and Israel's war in Iran has led to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz , stranding oil and natural gas tankers and causing energy prices to spike, threatening global economic growth.

Spending so much time with Xi will afford ample time for potentially tricky discussions, on Iran and trade, but also Taiwan and a possible three-way nuclear arms deal featuring Washington, Beijing and Russia.

Progress beyond pleasantries might prove elusive.

Back in Washington, the politics of the war got more complicated. Senate Republicans again blocked Democratic legislation to halt hostilities in Iran — but Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski bucked her party, becoming the third Republican in the chamber to vote against continuing the war.

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China is the largest purchaser of Iranian oil, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity that Trump will make the case for Beijing to exert its influence on Iran, noting that administration officials will underscore that “economies are melting down because of this crisis” which means consumers are “buying less Chinese product.”

“So it’s in their interest to resolve this,” Rubio said of Chinese officials. “We hope to convince them to play a more active role in getting Iran to walk away from what they’re doing now and trying to do now in the Persian Gulf.”

That contradicted Trump, who has downplayed suggestions that he'll press Xi to do more to pressure Iran to open the strait. The president also says pressure on the U.S. economy won't compromise U.S. demands as he negotiates with Iran in the midst of a fragile ceasefire. Asked as he left the White House if the financial stability of ordinary Americans factors into Iranian negotiations, Trump responded, “Not even a little bit.”

“I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation. I think about one thing: We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said, before going on to suggest that “every American understands” such a position.

Mixed messaging was also evident on inflation and the war, however, as Vice President JD Vance denied Trump's own words that the U.S. economy wasn't a major factor in seeking a resolution with Tehran.

“I don’t think the president said that,” Vance said after being asked about Trump's comments. “I think that’s a misrepresentation of what the president said.”

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Trade and Taiwan discussions also could be intense

Looming large is the status of Taiwan, given that China is displeased with U.S. plans to sell weapons to the self-governing island that the Chinese government claims as part of its territory.

The Trump administration has approved an $11 billion weapons package for Taiwan, but has yet to begin fulfilling it. Trump has also demonstrated greater ambivalence toward Taiwan — an approach that’s raising questions about whether he might be open to dialing back support for the island democracy.

Taiwan is the world’s leading chipmaker, producing components essential to the development of artificial intelligence. Trump has sought to bolster trade deals with Taiwan that can stimulate chip production in the U.S.

Trump personally called Nvidia's Jensen Huang to invite him to hop on Air Force One during a refueling stop in Alaska on the way to Beijing. He's one of a large group of CEOs from the tech, defense, finance and agriculture sectors who are part of the delegation.

The U.S. and China reached a trade truce last year that calmed each side’s threats to impose steep tariffs on the other. The White House says there have been ongoing discussions and mutual interest in extending the agreement, though it is unclear whether any such announcement could come during Trump’s visit.