Kushner could take a back seat in diplomacy with Beijing
Trump’s son-in-law was a key contact for Chinese diplomats early on, but reports suggest that role will be greatly diminished
The influence of US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner – who took a key role in early back-door diplomacy with Beijing – is expected to be greatly diminished in future US dealings with China, according to a Politico report.
Some observers put that down to Trump’s new chief of staff, John Kelly, who has been trying to tackle the unorthodox power structure in the White House.
Others say Kushner will continue to influence Trump, and that Beijing could still try to establish other back-channel communications with the US president.
Casino mogul Steve Wynn is one possibility to take a greater diplomatic role on China matters, according to Foreign Policy. Wynn reportedly hand-delivered a letter from the Chinese government to Trump urging him to send Guo Wengui back to China. Guo is a fugitive tycoon, wanted by Beijing on graft charges, who lives in New York and has made a string of corruption allegations against Chinese leaders.
Kushner, Trump’s senior adviser, was a key contact for Chinese diplomats early on. He met State Councillor Yang Jiechi when he visited New York in December – just weeks after Trump won the election. Kushner and with his wife Ivanka, another adviser to Trump, are also believed to have played a role in April when Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping in his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.