redo Jump to...
print Print...
(by Steven Nelson, NY Post) – President Trump arrived in Beijing on Wednesday without a tarmac greeting from Chinese President Xi Jinping — but the apparent snub was actually an “upgrade” from his last welcome in 2017, according to an expert.
“It’s actually quite revealing from a protocol perspective,” said Isabelle Vladoiu, founder of the US Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights.
“Xi Jinping did not personally greet Trump at the airport in 2017 either, but this time Beijing noticeably upgraded the reception by sending Vice President Han Zheng along with both ambassadors and senior foreign affairs officials.”
Trump’s arrival nine years ago — the most recent visit to China by an American president — featured a lower-level official appearing to welcome him, said Vladoiu, who has worked with many international organizations and authored the book “Business Etiquette Secrets.”
“In Chinese diplomatic protocol, rank is never accidental,” she said.
“In 2017, Trump was greeted by Yang Jiechi who was a senior official and state councilor but not as high rank as the vice president. China is signaling therefore that this visit carries greater strategic and geopolitical weight than before.”
Trump arrived aboard Air Force One with an all-star entourage, including Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, whose AI chip-making business is the world’s largest company by market capitalization.
The president’s red-carpet welcome also featured a military band and honor guard, as well as 300 youths singing a welcome message and waving American and Chinese flags in time to the band’s music. …
As he departed Washington, the president said that he expects talks with Xi to focus on trade relations. Other expected topics include ending illicit fentanyl exports to the US and the American war with Iran, though Trump on Tuesday downplayed plans to discuss the conflict.
[The BBC reports the main events of President Trump’s state visit to China are scheduled for Thursday and Friday. He will be welcomed by President Xi Jinping at an arrival ceremony at China’s Great Hall of the People. The two leaders will then hold talks, and a state banquet is scheduled for the evening.On Friday, there will be a “friendship photo” and handshake with Xi in Beijing’s Zhongnanhai Garden – home to the Communist Party’s headquarters. For foreign dignitaries, invitations here are often viewed as a sign of closeness and recognition.
This will be followed by another bilateral meeting and tea with Xi. A working lunch is then scheduled. President Trump will then head back to the airport for a departure ceremony.].
Published at NYPost on May 13. Reprinted here for educational purposes only. May not be reproduced on other websites without permission.
Questions
NOTE TO STUDENTS: Before answering the questions, read the “Background” and watch the videos under “Resources” below.
1. What is government protocol?
2. Who did President Xi Jinping send to greet President Trump when he arrived at the airport in Beijing on Wednesday?
3. a) Define snub.
b) Why wasn’t this a snub?
4. What signal was Xi Jinping sending by having Vice President Han Zheng greet President Trump when he arrived?
5. Does Chinese President Xi Jinping greet most foreign leaders at the airport?
6. Where will Xi Jinping greet President Trump?
7. What is the significance of the “friendship photo” and handshake the two leaders will take in Beijing’s Zhongnanhai Garden on Friday?
8. CHALLENGE: Answer the following questions from the video clip of KT McFarland, who worked in both the Nixon and Trump administrations.
a) Why don’t we need China’s help with Iran?
b) How does KT McFarland describe China’s negotiating style?
Background
The Great Hall of the People and Zhongnanhai are located adjacent to each other in central Beijing, just west of Tiananmen Square.
- The Great Hall of the People is a public-facing building used for legislative sessions (National People’s Congress) and major state ceremonies.
- Zhongnanhai is Located immediately to the west of the Great Hall (and adjacent to the Forbidden City). This is the highly secured, closed-off headquarters for the Communist Party of China and the State Council.
While the two are separate, distinct locations with different functions, they are part of the same central political, cultural, and diplomatic district in Beijing. (Excerpted from a Google AI Overview, May 13)
Daily “Answers” emails are provided for Daily News Articles, Tuesday’s World Events and Friday’s News Quiz.
