Trump sees Xi as a friend. Xi sees the US as an adversary.

Washington still holds great power in its relationship with China. But power on paper does not always mean leverage at the negotiating table. Henrietta Levin, a Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, warns that President Trump’s personal approach to Xi Jinping creates openings Beijing can exploit. Xi does not treat the relationship the same way. He views the United States as an adversary to be managed, while China pushes forward its domestic goals and strategic aims in Asia, including Taiwan.