A Look at Trump's Goals for His Summit in China

As President Trump prepares to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, the world is left wondering what exactly he hopes to achieve. The summit, which has been months in the making, is a highly anticipated event that has sparked both excitement and skepticism. NPR's Steve Inskeep sat down with John Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on China, to get a better understanding of Trump's goals for the summit.

Moolenaar, a Republican from Michigan, has been a vocal critic of China's trade practices and has called for a more aggressive approach to dealing with the country. However, he also believes that Trump's summit with Xi is an opportunity for the two leaders to find common ground and work towards a more stable relationship between the two nations. 'I think the president is looking for a way to reset the relationship with China,' Moolenaar said. 'He wants to find a way to work with China on issues like trade and security, but he also wants to make it clear that the United States will not be taken advantage of.'

One of the key issues that Trump is likely to push for during the summit is a more level playing field in trade. The president has long complained that China's trade practices are unfair and have cost American jobs. He is likely to press Xi for concessions on issues like intellectual property protection and market access. 'The president wants to make sure that China is playing by the rules,' Moolenaar said. 'He wants to make sure that American businesses have access to the Chinese market and that Chinese businesses are not stealing American intellectual property.'

Another issue that Trump is likely to discuss with Xi is security. The two leaders have a number of common security interests, including the fight against terrorism and the proliferation of nuclear weapons. However, they also have significant differences on issues like Taiwan and the South China Sea. 'The president wants to make sure that China is working with the United States on security issues,' Moolenaar said. 'He wants to make sure that we are coordinating our efforts to counter terrorism and to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.'

Despite the challenges ahead, Moolenaar believes that Trump's summit with Xi is an opportunity for the two leaders to find common ground and work towards a more stable relationship between the two nations. 'I think the president is looking for a way to work with China on issues like trade and security,' he said. 'He wants to find a way to reset the relationship with China and to make it clear that the United States will not be taken advantage of.'

As the summit approaches, the world is watching with bated breath to see what will happen. Will Trump and Xi be able to find common ground and work towards a more stable relationship between the two nations? Only time will tell.