Handshakes and Hidden Agendas in Beijing The carefully choreographed handshake between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping ahead of their bilateral talks in Beijing has sparked a flurry of commentary about the state of US China relations.
Beneath this display of diplomatic nicety, however, lies a complex web of interests.
Trump's visit to China bears all the hallmarks of "summit diplomacy," a relic of the Cold War era where leaders would engage in elaborate displays of camaraderie before getting down to business.