Sino File | Trump and Xi: Why the ‘bromance’ between the world’s two most powerful leaders fell apart

Following a surprisingly optimistic first meeting at Mar-a-Lago in April, where progress seemed likely, Sino-US relations seem to have taken a nosedive

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US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping pose prior to a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany. Photo: AFP

Published: 1:00pm, 23 Jul 2017Updated: 1:03pm, 23 Jul 2017

Was it wishful thinking to suppose the leaders of the world’s two most influential nations might fall into a diplomatic romance, despite their vast differences in belief, personal style and the national interests they are pursuing?

Many believed US President Donald Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping had forged a kind of “bromance” at their get-to-know-you meeting at Mar-a-Lago, Florida in April as their first informal summit ended with a surprisingly upbeat note.

China and North Korea: What now if Xi-Trump bromance is over?

Then, Trump touted the “great chemistry” between them and said “we like each other, I like him a lot”, while Xi said there were “a thousand reasons to get China-US relations right, and not one single reason to spoil them”.

They also agreed to work on two major issues: the nuclear threat posed by North Korea and bilateral trade. And Trump suggested the two issues can be traded, and offered Xi better deals in exchange for help on confronting North Korea.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump at a G20 summit meeting in Hamburg, Germany, on July 7, 2017. Photo: Kyodo

History suggests that personalised diplomacy can help to smooth Sino-US relations, as witnessed by the rapport forged between Richard Nixon and late leader Mao Zedong, and Henry Kissinger and Zhou Enlai.

There was some symbolically significant progress in these areas since Trump came to office. First, Beijing announced a ban on coal imports from North Korea, a major source of income for the rogue regime.