Trump-Xi Summit Opens... Agenda Shaken Under 'Shadow of Iran War'

(Seoul=News) The summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping has opened, but the massive variable of the Iran war is casting a deep shadow over the entire talks.

According to a New York Times (NYT) report on the 12th (local time), the meeting between the two leaders had initially raised expectations as an opportunity to seriously discuss key issues that have constrained U.S.-China relations, including trade conflicts, the Taiwan issue, and high-tech hegemony. However, with the ongoing Iran situation bringing diplomatic and economic uncertainty to both countries, expectations for progress on core agenda items have been significantly dampened, analysts say.

China, as the largest importer of Iranian crude oil, is suffering a direct blow to its energy supply due to the war. President Xi is reported to have demanded during the talks that the United States play "a responsible role in stabilizing the Middle East situation." Meanwhile, President Trump reportedly delivered a pressure message that China should reduce its economic support for Iran.

Beyond the Iran issue, the two sides have failed to narrow their differences on semiconductor export controls, rare earth supply chains, and military activities in the Taiwan Strait. On the first day of the talks, the two leaders are said to have exchanged only general positions without announcing any particular agreement.

Diplomatic experts analyzed that "the U.S. and China may seek room for cooperation in the face of the common crisis of the Iran situation, but at the same time, competition for Middle East hegemony could emerge as a new axis of conflict." The outcome of the summit is expected to have a significant impact on the security landscape of the Korean Peninsula and East Asia.