Last week, the whole world watched President Donald Trump travel to Beijing to meet with Chairman Xi Jinping for a high stakes summit. With conflict in the Middle East and simmering trade tensions, the backdrop for the meeting was intense. Underscoring those stressors is China’s increasing hostility toward religious leaders and advocates for free societies, support for America’s adversaries, and malign influence in the American homeland. Joining us to unpack President Trump’s most important trip yet is Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board member and Senior Fellow at Hudson Institute Michael Sobolik. We discuss the goals for the meeting, the outcomes for everything from trade to Taiwan, and the work that remains.

(1:31) The Lead Up

(5:16) The Pursuit of the Deal and Outcomes

(10:03) The Taiwan Factor

(18:22) Is There a China Strategy Behind the Iran War?

(25:52) The Line Between Competition and Cooperation

(30:19) The Next Steps

Mentioned Resources:

• Vandenberg Flash Focus Episode 61 | “Seeing My Father Again:” The Story of Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri
• The Dispatch | “Is There a China Strategy Behind the Iran War?” (Michael Sobolik and Grant Rumley)

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/49PrYMU41So