The Red Carpet Diplomacy of Authoritarianism

The latest China-US summit has provided a striking spectacle of synchronized pageantry. Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping’s grand entrance at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing was a carefully choreographed display of mutual admiration, complete with cannon fire, martial music, and troops in ceremonial uniforms.

This convergence of interests between two leaders who have increasingly come to resemble one another is not new. Once, meetings between US presidents and Chinese leaders were palpably between an autocrat and a democrat, with the former seeking to contain or counterbalance the latter’s growing influence. Now, however, Trump and Xi seem to be two birds of a feather, each cultivating a vision for their respective nations that emphasizes state control and authoritarianism.

Trump’s fulsome praise for Xi during the summit was hardly surprising given his own tendency to flatter dictators. As he once said, “He controls 1.4 billion people with an iron fist.” Yet, despite this candid assessment, Trump’s public declarations of admiration have only grown more effusive over time. During their meeting, the US president stated that the relationship between China and the USA would be “better than ever before,” a sentiment echoed by Xi Jinping in his opening remarks.

This development should send shivers down the spines of anyone concerned about democracy’s prospects around the world. As stability in the US-China relationship becomes increasingly touted as necessary for global stability, we see the seeds being sown for a new era of Great Power politics.

The convergence of interests between Trump and Xi is driven by their shared disdain for multilateral institutions and agreements that constrain national sovereignty. Both leaders view a retreat from the global order – as embodied by institutions like the World Trade Organisation or the Paris Climate Accord – as necessary to reclaim state power.

Trump’s proposal to sign a pact with China and Russia limiting nuclear arsenals takes on a different light in this context. Rather than signalling a genuine commitment to disarmament, it appears to be little more than a cynical attempt to paper over deep divisions within the US government while cultivating a new axis of authoritarianism.

As we gaze upon this disturbing spectacle of mutual admiration, one question looms large: what does all this portend for democracy around the world? The answer is not encouraging. With the global balance of power shifting inexorably towards authoritarian states, we see a rising tide of repression and censorship that threatens to engulf even the most stalwart democracies.

For those concerned about the future of human rights, free speech, and individual liberty, the convergence of interests between Trump and Xi should serve as a dire warning. As these two leaders continue to cultivate their shared vision for a world order dominated by state power, we must not forget that the very foundations of our democratic way of life are being eroded before our eyes.

The latest China-US summit has provided us with a sobering reminder that the age of great-power politics is indeed upon us. As Trump and Xi Jinping continue to cultivate their shared vision for a world order dominated by state power, we must not be lulled into complacency by their grand gestures of diplomacy. Instead, we should sound the alarm – loudly and clearly – about the dangers posed by this new era of Great Power politics.