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What Did Trump and Xi Jinping Discuss During Their September 19 Phone Call?

Trump and Xi Jinping spoke by phone for about two hours on September 19. On Trump’s posting and Xinhua’s report, both sides highlighted discussions on the TikTok deal and bilateral trade.

However, there were notable differences between the information put forth by each side. Trump mentioned issues such as fentanyl and ending the Russia-Ukraine war, which were absent from Xinhua’s account – suggesting that it might be Trump raised them but China didn’t agree with the U.S. position. Xinhua reported that Xi pressed the U.S. to provide a fair business environment for Chinese companies investing in the U.S., but Trump did not reference in his post.

Trump’s post on Truth Social:

“We made progress on many very important issues including Trade, Fentanyl, the need to bring the War between Russia and Ukraine to an end, and the approval of the TikTok Deal. … The call was a very good one, we will be speaking again by phone, appreciate the TikTok approval, and both look forward to meeting at APEC!”

Xinhua’s report:

“Xi Jinping stressed that the U.S. should avoid taking unilateral trade-restrictive measures that could undermine the outcomes achieved through multiple rounds of talks. On the TikTok issue, Xi said China’s position is clear: the Chinese government respects corporate autonomy, welcomes companies to conduct business negotiations on the basis of market rules, and supports reaching a solution that complies with Chinese laws and regulations while balancing interests. He expressed hope that the U.S. would provide an open, fair, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises investing in the U.S.”

“Trump stated that the U.S. seeks to promote bilateral economic and trade cooperation, will support the consultations between the two sides, and will properly resolve the TikTok issue. He added that the U.S. is willing to work with China to safeguard world peace.”

Sources:
1. Truth Social, Trump
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115231649861246548
2. Xinhua, September 19, 2025
http://www.news.cn/world/20250919/3bb67004417649309270b8a7f6c3295d/c.html

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Lianhe Zaobao: China Asked Tech Companies to Stop Purchasing Nvidia Chips

Singapore’s primary Chinese language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao recently reported that China’s Cyberspace Administration instructed several large domestic technology companies, including ByteDance and Alibaba, to stop purchasing Nvidia’s RTX Pro 6000D chips and cancel existing orders.

The RTX Pro 6000D is a new AI chip Nvidia customized for the Chinese market to circumvent U.S. export controls. It’s primarily designed for AI inference tasks. Nvidia previously projected that it would ship 1 million to 2 million of these chips this year. Several Chinese companies have indicated that they will order tens of thousands of RTX Pro 6000Ds and have begun testing and verification work with Nvidia’s server suppliers, but after receiving official instructions, these companies have asked suppliers to stop testing. Chinese officials said that Nvidia had violated China’s anti-monopoly law and would continue to investigate the matter.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang responded, saying that he was disappointed with the current situation, but understood that there were larger issues between China and the United States that needed to be resolved, and Nvidia would remain patient.

Some market analysts expressed the belief that China is simply trying to put additional pressure on the U.S. to get more favorable terms in trade talks. When asked about this at a regular press conference, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman did not confirm whether China asked companies to stop purchasing. He only said that China has always opposed discriminatory practices against specific countries on economic, trade and technological issues, and is willing to maintain dialogue and cooperation with all parties.

Source: Lianhe Zaobao, September 18, 2025
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/finance/china/story20250918-7534280?ref=global-finance

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology US-China Relations

Lianhe Zaobao: Fewer U.S. Companies Optimistic about China’s Prospects

Singapore’s primary Chinese language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao recently reported that, according to an annual survey released by the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, the proportion of American companies optimistic about the outlook was lowest in the manufacturing sector (36 percent) and highest in the retail sector (51 percent). The survey, which involved 254 of its members, was conducted shortly after the United States announced the reciprocal tariffs.

The number of American companies optimistic about China’s business prospects in the next five years has hit a new low for four consecutive years, with only 41 percent of respondents expressing optimism, a decrease of six percentage points from last year. Only 45 percent surveyed expect revenue to grow this year, which would be the lowest level ever. Around 12 percent of respondents listed China as their preferred destination for headquarters investment, the lowest level since the chamber began publishing this annual survey in 1999.

“We welcome the 90-day truce, but the problem has not gone away, it still exists,” said Zheng Yi, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai.

Source: Lianhe Zaobao, September 10, 2025
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/finance/china/story20250910-7490805

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Xinhua: UN Adopts Resolution on Cooperation with SCO; Countries Praise China’s Global Governance Initiative

Xinhua reported that on September 5, the 79th UN General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a China-sponsored resolution on “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO),” co-sponsored by nearly 40 countries, including all SCO members.

The resolution recognized the SCO’s constructive role in promoting regional peace, development, and cooperation, while encouraging deeper dialogue and collaboration between the UN system and the organization.

China’s UN envoy Geng Shuang noted that the SCO has grown into the world’s largest regional organization. He stated the centerpiece of the recent Tianjin Summit was Xi Jinping’s Global Governance Initiative, describing it as timely given the urgent need for more effective global governance concepts and system.

Representatives from Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Cuba, Venezuela, Serbia, and other countries commended the SCO’s work and China’s role as rotating chair, stressing that Xi’s initiative aligns with global priorities and could make a significant contribution to improving international governance.

Source: Xinhua, September 6, 2025
http://www.xinhuanet.com/20250906/1ac848e7f47e44d6925204fe45bee911/c.html

Briefings | | |   @CS Geo-Strategic Trend Government/Politics US-China Relations

Guanchazhe Article Called “The Death of Charlie Kirk Is Worthless”

Guanchazhe (观察者) is a privately owned website in China, with a focus on global affairs. Its owner Eric Xun Li is a Chinese venture capitalist and political commentator. He is an advocate of communism as a “more effective form of governance.”

Guanchazhe published a commentary by its columnist Gaotiangungun (高天滚滚) titled “The Death of Charlie Kirk: Lighter than a Feather.” The Chinese idiom “Lighter than a Feather” indicates that Kirk’s death was “worthless,” i.e. not of significance. The Chinese Communist Party- (CCP-) controlled Hong Kong media outlet Phoenix republished the piece with a disclaimer noting that posting was by its user Dafeng Hao and that Phoenix had only provided hosting for the article.

The phrase “lighter than a feather” echoes Mao Zedong’s famous line: “Though death comes to all, it may be weightier than Mount Tai, or lighter than a feather.” The author contrasted the February 2024 self-immolation of 25-year-old U.S. Air Force serviceman Aaron Bushnell outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. – deemed “weightier than Mount Tai” – with Kirk’s death, which he called “lighter than a feather.”

The following are some excerpts from the article:

Charlie Kirk once said in 2023: “I think it’s worth the cost of unfortunately some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the 2nd Amendment. That is a prudent deal. It is rational.”

Two years later, on September 10, 2025, Kirk repeated similar arguments while defending gun rights at Utah Valley University – only to be fatally shot during the event. From the perspective of a man devoted to God, the death of Kirk symbolized his sacrifice to the “rationality” and “honesty” he once stated in defense of firearms.

Kirk has fulfilled the maxim: “A defender of guns for all must not die peacefully of old age.” But his end was more than just “reaping what he sowed.” Given the many “biting the hand that feeds” stances he promoted, if there were some higher “Court of American Values,” its jury might long ago have sentenced him to death. The U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment was simply the bailiff that loaded the live round for his execution.

Kirk never graduated from community college, yet he managed to become a leading voice for America’s far-right youth. I will not belittle his talent on account of his education. Due to limited information, I cannot fully judge his personal morality. History shows that many villains had decent private virtues – polite in person, even seeming like ideal neighbors.

But simply because of his lies and slanders against China, I will never give him any sympathy.

Sources:
1. Guanchazhe, September 12, 2025
https://www.guancha.cn/youziyi/2025_09_12_789900_s.shtml
2. Phoenix, September 12, 2025
https://news.ifeng.com/c/8mbj3V8qn4o

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics US-China Relations

Lianhe Zaobao: U.S. Plans to Restrict Imports of Chinese Drones and Heavy Vehicles

Singapore’s leading Chinese-language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao recently reported that the U.S. government is preparing new regulations to restrict – or even ban – the import of Chinese drones and medium- to heavy-duty vehicles.

Chinese products dominate the U.S. commercial drone market, with DJI alone accounting for more than half of all sales. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Chinese companies collectively control at least 75 percent of the market.

In December 2023, the Biden administration signed legislation prohibiting DJI and Shenzhen Autel from selling new drones in the United States. Yet in June 2024, three senior Republican lawmakers sent a letter to the Trump campaign, warning that DJI and Autel equipment still holds “a significant share of the U.S. market and is widely used.”

Washington has already placed heavy restrictions on Chinese auto imports. In September 2024, the Biden administration imposed a 100 percent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles, followed by rules finalized in January 2025 banning Chinese-made smart car software and hardware. However, vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds were exempted, enabling companies such as BYD to continue assembling electric buses in California.

Source: Lianhe Zaobao, September 6, 2025
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/finance/china/story20250906-7471969?ref=global-finance

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology US-China Relations

U.S. Cotton Exports to China Plunge 90 Percent

U.S. cotton exports to China dropped by nearly 90 percent year-over-year in the first half of this year, according to data from the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG). Meanwhile, exports to Pakistan and Turkey rose, and shipments to Vietnam nearly tripled.

The apparel industry has been steadily shifting production for the U.S. market from China to South and Southeast Asia, where labor costs are lower. This shift accelerated in the first half of the year, driven in part by U.S. tariffs. Washington is now closely watching for transshipment practices, where factories route goods through third countries to bypass higher tariffs. Facilities heavily dependent on Chinese inputs may be flagged as engaging in such practices.

With U.S.–China trade negotiations stalled, the apparel sector remains concerned about the risks of over-reliance on Chinese supply chains.

Source: AAStocks, September 3, 2025
https://www.aastocks.com/tc/usq/news/comment.aspx?source=AAFN&id=NOW.1468052&catg=4

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend US-China Relations

Chinese Foreign Ministry: China-Latin America Cooperation Not Targeting Third Parties, U.S. Should Stop Interference

In response to recent U.S. claims that China is “penetrating and seizing resources” in the Western Hemisphere, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated on August 25 that China-Latin America cooperation is not aimed at any third party and should not be interfered with by outside forces. Regional countries have the right to independently choose their development paths and partners.

“At the core, the U.S. statements are factually incorrect and repetitive, once again exposing the deeply entrenched Cold War mentality and confrontational mindset of some U.S. officials,” Guo said at a routine press briefing. He stated that the U.S. has long intervened in and sought to control Latin America and the Caribbean, with its hegemonic and bullying behavior laid bare.

“Latin America and the Caribbean are not anyone’s ‘backyard.’ China-Latin America cooperation is not directed at any third party and should not be interfered with. Regional countries have the right to independently choose their development paths and partners. The U.S. should stop sowing discord and stirring up trouble, and instead do something concrete to support the development of Latin American and Caribbean nations,” Guo said.

Source: People’s Daily, August 25, 2025
https://world.people.com.cn/n1/2025/0825/c1002-40549669.html

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations