U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. [AP=Yonhap News]

There has been much discussion about the outcome of the highly anticipated U.S.-China summit. Pro-China leftists are framing it as a defeat for President Trump, who achieved nothing and was outmaneuvered by Xi Jinping.

I am writing this because some within the conservative right, who had hoped that President Trump's visit to China would expose the reality of election fraud and trigger a major upheaval, are also disappointed and critical of Trump.

I am not a political science doctor who analyzes international affairs, nor am I a commentator who gets to the heart of issues. I am simply sharing my personal thoughts.

Saving Xi Jinping's Face While Securing U.S. Gains

Without a doubt, I believe this U.S.-China summit was a unilateral victory for President Trump, who managed to save face for Xi Jinping domestically while the U.S. reaped all the political, economic, and military benefits.

Frankly, I too had hoped that President Trump would use evidence of election fraud and other proof to defeat Xi Jinping and bring about a significant change in Korea. However, that was merely the selfish desire of short-sighted, worldly individuals.

Diplomacy between nations is not like a stomach medicine that instantly relieves discomfort or a laxative that cures constipation. Diplomacy, in polite terms, can be described as "outwardly gentle, inwardly strong," or in cruder terms, "smiling to your face while backstabbing you."

During this summit, President Trump did an excellent job of praising Xi Jinping and the Chinese people, saying, "President Xi is a great leader. The Chinese people are also a great people." He patted them on the back quite effectively.

He then secured Xi Jinping's agreement to oppose Iran's possession of nuclear weapons. He also obtained a promise to cease arms shipments to Iran. Furthermore, he secured their agreement to free passage through the Strait of Hormuz. In doing so, Trump turned China into an enemy of Iran. He also ensured that China would side with the U.S. in any potential conflict with Iran.

Secondly, China agreed to significantly reduce its own aircraft production and import 200 Boeing planes. China also promised to import U.S. crude oil and open its market to U.S. agricultural and fishery products. In return, the U.S. obtained a promise from China to ban the export of the drug fentanyl to the U.S. Ultimately, the U.S. got everything it wanted.

Xi Jinping Completely Lost Face as a Great Power

However, the current issue is Taiwan. When President Trump brought up the Taiwan issue, he passed it over with very ambiguous statements that respected China's opinion but offered no definitive stance, neither this nor that.

Then, in front of American reporters, he made strange remarks directed at Taiwan, saying, "China is a powerful great nation, and Taiwan is a small island," implying that Taiwan should not even dream of independence.

Consequently, left-leaning media in both South Korea and the U.S. are trumpeting that Xi Jinping completely overpowered Trump and completely dismantled the U.S.'s hardline stance on China.

Leftists in South Korea and the U.S. are either ignorant or foolish. They are easily manipulated by Trump's unpredictable rhetoric and tactics.

To be frank, this U.S.-China summit was a humiliating meeting where Xi Jinping was completely intimidated, failing to maintain the dignity of a great power.

If Xi Jinping had intended to have a proper summit, as the leader of a G2 nation, he should have first discussed ending the Russia-Ukraine war to stabilize international affairs.

Furthermore, Xi Jinping should have boldly protested the U.S.'s actions against Maduro and its invasion of Iran. He should have also discussed Japan's rearmament to uphold the image of a communist great power and a G2 nation.

However, Xi Jinping, intimidated by Trump, dared not even mention such issues and only brought up Taiwan. Trump, who knows Xi Jinping well, pretended to listen to the Taiwan issue, thereby saving Xi's face.

Anyone with a sound mind should understand why President Trump made those incomprehensible remarks about Taiwan.

China today is in no condition to go to war with Taiwan. China is facing severe economic recession and political-military instability, putting the Xi Jinping regime at risk of collapse and the nation at risk of being divided.

President Trump has punished Venezuela and Iran to cripple China's lifeline. He is now dealing with Cuba and other pro-China nations, so there was no need for him to clash with Xi Jinping over Taiwan. It is foolish to fight with someone who is already dying.

During the summit, President Trump also surprised the world by successfully executing the operation to eliminate ISIS's second-in-command, Al-Maimouni.

In short, President Trump already held all the cards to overwhelm Xi Jinping before the summit began, and Xi Jinping came away empty-handed, having nothing to counter President Trump with.

The outcome of this U.S.-China summit was decided before it even began. That is how diplomacy is conducted.

◆ Advisor Kim Tae-san

Advisor to the Hankyoreh Shinbo, former representative of North Korea's trading company in the Czech Republic. In Korea, he has served as Vice President of the North Korea Society Research Institute, offering in-depth insights and experience on inter-Korean relations and North Korean issues.