In a bold and controversial maneuver, US President Donald Trump is reportedly bypassing traditional diplomatic channels in favor of direct negotiations with Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to a recent report from Politico. Amidst an intensifying trade war between the world’s two largest economies, Trump’s approach reflects a broader strategy that emphasizes personal diplomacy over institutional processes, raising questions about the future of US-China relations and the global trade architecture.

Trump’s administration has effectively shut down almost every official and informal channel of communication with Beijing, according to anonymous former State Department officials and an industry insider cited by Politico. The strategy appears calculated: no current US ambassador to China has been confirmed by the Senate, no special envoy has been nominated to lead trade negotiations, and there has been little to no contact between the US government and the Chinese embassy in Washington. The clear signal is that Trump wants no intermediaries – he wants Xi, and only Xi.

This direct line approach echoes Trump’s previous diplomatic style, most notably in his dealings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, . In Trump’s view, personal relationships yield faster and more tangible results than bureaucratic engagement. But critics argue that sidelining career diplomats and foreign policy experts removes institutional memory, strategic nuance, and essential checks and balances from critical negotiations.

“Backchannels don’t work because President Trump doesn’t want them to,” said Ryan Hass, former director for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia at the National Security Council under President Obama. “He wants to deal directly with President Xi in the same way he........

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