Coincidence or not, a few days after Trump’s visit to Xi, Putin went to China. Anyone casually observing Putin’s reception would have seen two close friends meeting. But behind the scenes, it was said that Xi and Putin — despite having met more than forty times — do not actually like each other very much. In early 2022, Putin is said to have assured Xi that he would be able to bring Ukraine under control in no time, thereby dealing the West a massive blow. That is why I was not surprised by the Financial Times report claiming that Xi told Trump Putin might come to regret his war against Ukraine. In my view, Putin already does.
After more than four years of war, he has made virtually no progress. Xi, however, cannot abandon him, because the struggle both leaders are waging against the Western world order is too important. That, ultimately, is what binds them together. Success for Ukraine means success for the West, and that must be prevented. As a result, economic ties between Russia and China are becoming ever closer. No less than 25 percent of Russian exports now go to China, including oil. In Beijing, Putin presented himself as a reliable alternative to energy imports from the Gulf states. He has no choice. China is the savior softening the consequences of his blunders. The price Putin pays for this is subservience to his powerful neighbor.
Remarkably, Xi received two weakened leaders in succession. The Chinese leader must have taken great satisfaction in watching Trump stumble in Iran. Iran, an ally of China, cannot win a war against the United States. But if Iran does not lose, that in itself would be a major blow to Trump and a boost for Xi and his ambition to reshape the world order and become the world’s number one power. Seen in that light, the Iran war is a gift from heaven for Xi. Without having to do anything himself, Trump weakens America and makes China stronger.
As a result, Trump achieved very little during his visit. He was made to understand that he should not support Taiwan. Moreover, Xi was no longer bothered with what he sees as “fuss” about human rights. For Western leaders, that had always been an important topic, but this time it was no longer discussed. Trump wanted to dazzle audiences back home with spectacular trade deals, but China responded cautiously about what had actually been achieved. In the end, Xi did concede that an order for 200 Boeing aircraft had reportedly been placed.
Ultimately, it became a historic week. In Beijing, we saw a weakened Trump showering his “friend” with compliments. We witnessed how Trump, the most powerful man in the world, effectively handed over the baton to Xi. Xi is playing the game brilliantly: no saber-rattling, no exaggerated rhetoric, just cool and calculated responses. In contrast to Trump, here stood a true world leader.
What must Xi have been thinking? Since imperial times, China has viewed itself as a superior civilization. Beyond its borders live the barbarians. I suspect that, in Xi’s eyes, the blunders of Trump and Putin only confirm that this vision is far from outdated.
Source: Trouw, Rob de Wijk, 21 mei 2026
Experts
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