Xi goes a-courtin'

Why does it matter? Beijing clearly hopes to drive wedges between the United States and its long-standing allies and partners, and appears to have at least partly succeeded—French President Emmanuel Macron, for instance, appeared to give Xi exactly what he wanted in terms of distancing Europe and America, while Brazilian President Lula da Silva’s own state visit gave him the opportunity indulge in Cold War-era leftist complaints about the United States. At the same time, Beijing refuses to reciprocate America’s own attempts to revive constructive dialogue.

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TLP’s take: Western foreign policy pundits and commentators have taken just about every opportunity in recent months to browbeat the United States into re-engaging with the Chinese government, but it’s become apparent that America wants to talk with Beijing more than Beijing wants to talk with America. When it comes to diplomacy, it takes two to tango—and right now the Chinese government doesn’t want to dance.

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