Concerns in U.S.-China Relations Ahead of Summit

President Donald Trump has spoken optimistically about his relationship with China, particularly as he prepares for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. However, experts are cautioning that the U.S. is entering a precarious phase with the communist nation. Gordon Chang, a senior fellow at the Gatestone Institute, claims that Xi is actively preparing for potential conflict with the United States.

Trump and Xi are scheduled to meet in Washington, D.C. on Thursday. This comes four months after their last meeting in May. Key topics anticipated for discussion include artificial intelligence and trade. Chang suggests that despite the positive rhetoric from both leaders, Xi is contemplating military action against the U.S., raising concerns about organized troop movements.

Xi Jinping keeps on talking about going to war against us, preparing China’s society, civilian and military, for battle. And we think we’re at peace, Chang said on Fox News Live.

Chang’s comments arise amidst reports of China’s involvement with Iran in attacks that resulted in the deaths of three U.S. troops in Jordan over the summer. The Wall Street Journal reported that Chinese entities provided satellite images of an airbase in Jordan to Iran prior to the attack. Chang condemned China for supplying targeting data that led to American casualties, urging Trump to adopt a firmer stance on China.

Other experts argue that decades of open dialogue with China have failed to improve U.S.-China relations, and instead suggest China is engaging in unrestricted warfare involving fentanyl, espionage, and sabotage. Chang emphasizes the moral implications, asserting that China is deliberately causing harm to Americans.

With the Middle East conflict escalating and the AI race becoming more intense, watchers predict the upcoming summit to be markedly different from the previous meeting in May. Chang reflects on past interactions, mentioning that Xi is unlikely to offer a better reception on AI than what former President Joe Biden received during a 2023 meeting.

Chang highlights challenges Xi faces domestically, including dealing with a restless Communist Party. This, coupled with arrogance and misconceptions about China’s trajectory, suggests Xi might resist compromising with the U.S.

Nora Moriarty is a Writer at Fox News Digital.