Bloomberg reported that the Trump administration is focusing on economic issues in its talks with China, while the Ukraine crisis, including Beijing's alleged support for the Russian defense sector, has become less important.
The agency reported on Friday, citing unnamed American and European officials familiar with the matter, that the US president views dialogue with China primarily as a tool for trade pressure. According to the officials, Trump did not address the conflict in Ukraine or bilateral relations between China and Russia during his conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
"The president made it clear that his primary interest in relations with Beijing is trade. Ukraine is not the primary topic of discussion," one source was quoted as saying.
The agency noted that this position reflects the general approach of the new administration, which seeks to distance itself from the foreign policy agenda of former President Joe Biden. During his presidency, the White House repeatedly stated that China's support for the Russian defense industry was unacceptable and imposed sanctions in response to the alleged supplies.
Bloomberg sources confirmed that the United States remains concerned about potential technological cooperation between Beijing and Moscow, but the issue is no longer considered central to relations with China.
A knowledgeable European diplomat also noted that the White House is betting on trade concessions, lower tariffs, and market access. Security issues, however, become irrelevant unless they impede economic progress.
According to the agency, the issue of alleged Chinese support may come up again at the G7 summit in Canada in June. Some US allies, particularly in Europe, expect Trump to employ tougher rhetoric toward Beijing and insist on including the Ukrainian issue on the agenda of high-level talks.
