"Number 5".. A Bad Omen Disrupts Trump's Calculations with Xi

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In ancient Chinese culture, the number 5 is not just a passing figure; it is associated with what is known as the 'Five Blessings', which are seen as the completion of a lucky life: longevity, wealth, health and peace of mind, virtue, and a natural end after a long life. However, the number that carries all these positive connotations may take on a completely different meaning when it comes to U.S. President Donald Trump and his relationship with China.

While the 'Five Blessings' refer to a balanced and complete life, five heavy titles gather before Trump in his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping, ranging from trade and rare earth minerals to artificial intelligence and Taiwan, while the U.S. war with Iran adds another file to the web of intertwined interests between Washington and Beijing, making the number 5 this time seem more like a political omen than a symbol of luck.

This paradox is the entry point chosen by The Economic Times to read the relationship between Trump and Xi, referring to the Chinese concept of (Wufu), or 'Five Blessings', in contrast to a set of heavy files that continue to complicate the relationship between the two largest economies in the world.

Despite what the recent summit showed in terms of understandings, several key issues have not been definitively resolved, leaving the relationship based on managing disagreements and containing escalation rather than resolving outstanding issues, according to the newspaper.

The foremost of these files is trade, which has been the arena for the fiercest rounds of escalation between Trump and Beijing over the past years, before both parties once again turned to de-escalation and seeking temporary arrangements.

The negotiations include tariffs and Chinese purchases of American products, along with broader arrangements related to bilateral trade, while the risk of a return to tension remains as the agreed-upon periods of de-escalation end if the temporary understandings do not turn into more stable agreements.

As for rare earth metals, they carry a different sensitivity; these elements are involved in technology, energy, and defense industries, while China holds a pivotal position in their extraction, processing, and supply chains.

Washington seeks to reduce its dependence on Beijing in this sector, but building alternative supply chains does not happen quickly, which gives China a significant bargaining chip in any economic or technological confrontation between the two countries.

In artificial intelligence, the competition between Washington and Beijing has moved to a level more closely related to national security and technological superiority, with each side seeking to protect its advanced capabilities and prevent the other from gaining a decisive advantage.

The disagreement here is not only related to companies and markets, but extends to advanced chips, computing capabilities, data, and potential military applications, making any technological understanding between the two countries linked to broader calculations than just trade.

Then comes Taiwan, a file that is difficult to separate from the military and strategic dimension in the US-China relationship.

Beijing considers the island part of its territory and opposes any steps towards its independence, while Washington maintains unofficial relations with Taiwan and provides it with military support, making the future of the island one of the most sensitive issues in regional and international security calculations.

However, the relationship between Trump and Xi does not move within the boundaries of the Pacific Ocean only; Iran has also become part of the intertwined calculations between Washington and Beijing, especially with the US-Iranian war being linked to energy security, maritime routes, and global trade.

During the meeting between Trump and Xi, the Iranian file entered the discussions, with the Chinese side confirming its support for the diplomatic path between Washington and Tehran, while the two presidents also discussed the issue of the Iranian nuclear program and the security of international maritime routes, amid the ongoing repercussions of the war on energy markets and trade.

Here, the paradox of the number 5 becomes more apparent; what the "five blessings" symbolize in Chinese culture as completeness and balance seems in the relationship between Trump and Xi closer to five intertwined arenas that are difficult to separate from one another.

Trade intersects with rare metals, technology is linked to national security, Taiwan carries a military dimension, while Iran, energy security, and waterways add a new geopolitical dimension to a relationship that Washington and Beijing are trying to keep under control without removing the fundamental disagreements.

Thus, the number 5 in Trump's calculations this time may not be a number of blessing, but a "nightmare" that haunts him due to the volume of files that remain open between Washington and Beijing, and the fine line between both parties' attempts to extinguish a cold peace that keeps their competition away from igniting a confrontation that may not be in favor of either country.