For a second, it seemed like President Trump and China President Xi Jinping had buried the hatchet at APEC.
Then, simply as eyes turned away from the Korean summit, Xi picked up an ax.
Trump celebrated his high-profile breakthrough with Beijing as a victory on tariffs, a promise of huge soybean purchases and an settlement to cease the circulation of the chemical compounds that gas fentanyl.
But by the subsequent day, the grins had vanished as Xi used his closing remarks to take an unmistakable swipe at his American rival.
In a pointed message delivered to enterprise leaders, Xi took a thinly veiled swipe at Washington’s commerce insurance policies—positioning China because the champion of free markets whereas warning regional companions in opposition to becoming a member of America’s marketing campaign to decouple from Chinese provide chains.
‘APEC economies ought to oppose protectionism, resist unilateral bullying and stop the world from returning to the legislation of the jungle,’ he declared—phrases specialists extensively interpreted as a direct rebuke of Trump’s method to commerce.
This was a stark distinction to how Xi responded to Trump throughout their face-to-face assembly. ‘China and the US needs to be companions and pals,’ President Xi mentioned throughout their summit. ‘This is what historical past has taught us and what actuality calls for.’
Brent Sadler, a former army diplomat with a long time of expertise in Asia, believes that Xi’s submit–summit remarks have been each a response to the assembly and an assertion of China’s rising energy.
China’s President Xi Jinping speaks through the Asia–Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, South Korea
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping pose for images forward of a bilateral assembly at Gimhae Air Base on October 30, 2025 in Busan, South Korea. Trump is assembly Xi for the primary time since taking workplace for his second time period, following months of rising stress between each nations
Chinese President Xi Jinping waves to the press as he walks with US President Donald Trump on the Mar–a–Lago property in West Palm Beach, Florida, again in 2017
Trump takes half in a welcoming ceremony with Xi Jinping on November 9, 2017 in Beijing, China on a ten–day journey to Asia
‘Trump very clearly set the stage for this assembly, flexing his place,’ Sadler mentioned. ‘What we noticed after the summit was Xi returning to acquainted rhetoric. It wasn’t hostile, however it wasn’t pleasant. It was extra of a chilly, businesslike engagement, and Xi was clearly sending a message.’
Sadler described Xi’s feedback as ‘catty,’ including, ‘It wasn’t only a swipe; it was virtually like a menace. Xi was telling others to not facet with the Americans, which is a strategic transfer to bolster China’s affect within the area.’
This, in line with Sadler, reveals the true nature of the US–China relationship — not a friendship, however a fancy and tense negotiation, the place either side are enjoying a protracted sport.
This is not the primary time the 2 sides have made a deal, just for it to unravel shortly after. The final settlement struck between China and the US was successfully discarded simply months after being put in place.
‘I’ve seen this film earlier than,’ Sadler mentioned. ‘Promises from Beijing have typically been made, however not adopted by way of on. We’ll see if this time is any totally different.’
Asia–area analysts inform Daily Mail that whereas Trump’s crew could have secured some preliminary concessions, it stays to be seen whether or not these will maintain up over the long run – skeptical of China’s capacity to satisfy it is commitments on points like fentanyl management and export controls.
‘The US wants to make sure China adheres to its commitments. The handshake deal in South Korea is simply significant if it is adopted up with motion. Trump’s crew must preserve the stress on,’ Sadler added.
The subsequent huge summit between Trump and Xi, anticipated in April, will possible reveal whether or not these commerce talks can transfer past the floor –– and if historical past is any indicator –– if part of their settlement derails.
A former senior Biden administration official tells the Daily Mail it is exhausting to see the deal stick. One inform: No textual content of a joint settlement was ever launched.
‘President Xi has been prepared to push again in opposition to Trump, so I may see him altering phrases of the deal if Trump posts one thing in the midst of the evening on X with a wholly new coverage,’ the Senior Administration official mentioned.
Asked for a response to Xi, a White House aide famous that the US can also be enjoying the lengthy sport.
‘We’re a menace to them, too… I believe we get alongside very nicely, and I believe we might be larger, higher and stronger by working with them versus simply knocking them out,’ the official mentioned.