China claims overshadow Xi’s US visit

BEIJING—As Chinese President Xi Jinping makes his first state visit to Washington this week, the outlook for relations is decidedly murkier than when he hosted President Barack Obama at their last summit less than a year ago.

Tensions are rising over allegations of Beijing-directed cyberattacks on the US and China’s moves to assert its South China Sea territorial claims. Much of the American public sees China as an economic threat and criticisms are rising over a sweeping crackdown on civil rights.

“US suspicions regarding Chinese intentions are growing. The atmosphere surrounding this summit may be more negative than any in the post-Tiananmen period,” said Aaron L. Friedberg, professor of politics and international affairs at Princeton University, referring to China’s bloody crackdown on prodemocracy protesters in 1989.

For Xi, who took over as president in 2013, the visit comes as his standing both at home and abroad has grown slightly more ambiguous.

Earlier this month, he presided over a massive military parade in Beijing attended by a few luminaries. Most leaders of the world’s major democracies stayed away. Also, the recent Chinese stock market plunge prompted concerns about the state of the world’s second-largest economy.

“The Communist Party regime’s reputation for competent economic management has taken a hit. Still, Xi appears to be firmly in control for now,” said Princeton’s Friedberg.