For a brief moment at the APEC summit, it seemed as though President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping had reached a moment of détente. However, just as global attention shifted away from the Korean summit, Xi abruptly disrupted this apparent peace.

President Trump hailed the encounter with Beijing as a significant success, highlighting agreements that included tariff reductions, substantial soybean purchases, and measures to curb the chemicals fueling the fentanyl crisis. It seemed like a diplomatic win for the U.S.

Yet, the optimism was short-lived. The very next day, Xi, in his closing remarks, took an opportunity to subtly critique his American counterpart. The amicable atmosphere quickly dissipated as Xi offered a pointed message to business leaders.

In this veiled critique, Xi positioned China as the defender of free trade, implicitly challenging Washington’s trade strategies. He cautioned regional partners against aligning with America’s efforts to reduce dependency on Chinese supply chains, signaling a clear defiance against U.S. policies.

In a pointed message delivered to business leaders, Xi took a thinly veiled swipe at Washington’s trade policies—positioning China as the champion of free markets while warning regional partners against joining America’s campaign to decouple from Chinese supply chains.

‘APEC economies should oppose protectionism, resist unilateral bullying and prevent the world from returning to the law of the jungle,’ he declared—words experts widely interpreted as a direct rebuke of Trump’s approach to trade. 

This was a stark contrast to how Xi responded to Trump during their face-to-face meeting. ‘China and the US should be partners and friends,’ President Xi said during their summit. ‘This is what history has taught us and what reality demands.’

Brent Sadler, a former military diplomat with decades of experience in Asia, believes that Xi’s post–summit remarks were both a response to the meeting and an assertion of China’s growing power. 

China’s President Xi Jinping speaks during the Asia–Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, South Korea

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping pose for photos ahead of a bilateral meeting at Gimhae Air Base on October 30, 2025 in Busan, South Korea. Trump is meeting Xi for the first time since taking office for his second term, following months of growing tension between both countries

Chinese President Xi Jinping waves to the press as he walks with US President Donald Trump at the Mar–a–Lago estate in West Palm Beach, Florida, back in 2017

Trump takes part in a welcoming ceremony with Xi Jinping on November 9, 2017 in Beijing, China on a 10–day trip to Asia

‘Trump very clearly set the stage for this meeting, flexing his position,’ Sadler said. ‘What we saw after the summit was Xi returning to familiar rhetoric. It wasn’t hostile, but it wasn’t friendly. It was more of a cold, businesslike engagement, and Xi was clearly sending a message.’

Sadler described Xi’s comments as ‘catty,’ adding, ‘It wasn’t just a swipe; it was almost like a threat. Xi was telling others not to side with the Americans, which is a strategic move to reinforce China’s influence in the region.’ 

This, according to Sadler, reveals the true nature of the US–China relationship — not a friendship, but a complex and tense negotiation, where both sides are playing a long game.

This isn’t the first time the two sides have made a deal, only for it to unravel shortly after. The last agreement struck between China and the US was effectively discarded just months after being put in place. 

‘I have seen this movie before,’ Sadler said. ‘Promises from Beijing have often been made, but not followed through on. We’ll see if this time is any different.’ 

Asia–region analysts tell Daily Mail that while Trump’s team may have secured some initial concessions, it remains to be seen whether these will hold up over the long term – skeptical of China’s ability to meet it’s commitments on issues like fentanyl control and export controls. 

‘The US needs to ensure China adheres to its commitments. The handshake deal in South Korea is only meaningful if it’s followed up with action. Trump’s team needs to keep the pressure on,’ Sadler added.

The next big summit between Trump and Xi, expected in April, will likely reveal whether these trade talks can move beyond the surface –– and if history is any indicator –– if a part of their agreement derails. 

A former senior Biden administration official tells the Daily Mail it’s hard to see the deal stick. One tell: No text of a joint agreement was ever released. 

‘President Xi has been willing to push back against Trump, so I could see him changing terms of the deal if Trump posts something in the middle of the night on X with an entirely new policy,’ the Senior Administration official said. 

Asked for a response to Xi, a White House aide noted that the US is also playing the long game.   

‘We’re a threat to them, too… I think we get along very well, and I think we can be bigger, better and stronger by working with them as opposed to just knocking them out,’ the official said.