China Could Gain Diplomatic Leverage as Trump-Zelensky Clash Highlights US Volatility

Beijing Can Boost Its Soft Power Globally by Pushing for Multilateralism, Says Expert

- Michelle Ng

BEIJING - The public spat between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his US counterpart Donald Trump at the White House on Feb 28 is yet another example of how an unpredictable and unreliable America could create greater diplomatic opportunities for China, said observers.

A meeting intended to pave the way for a deal granting the US access to Ukraine's rare earth mineral deposits — which would reduce US dependence on China for said minerals — ended in an ugly row that played out in front of the world's TV cameras.

What ensued was a fiery 10-minute exchange, marked by frequent interjections, where Mr Trump and his deputy J.D. Vance accused Mr Zelensky of being "ungrateful" and "disrespectful".

Clips of the incident have since gone viral on Chinese social media, sparking commentary by observers and netizens on the lack of diplomatic decorum.

No deal was signed and the Ukrainian leader left the White House. European leaders have since rallied behind Mr Zelensky, who received a warm welcome — and a £2.26 billion (S$3.8 billion) loan — from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer a day after the heated exchange.

Mr Trump's "America First" approach to foreign policy, displayed so publicly, has highlighted the deepening division in the West and within America itself, observers said.

Professor Cui Hongjian of the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at Beijing Foreign Studies University said Mr Trump's second-term policies — from abandoning international agreements to intensifying his transactional approach to diplomacy — are creating uncertainty.

"Given Trump's foreign policy approach — while not fully isolationist but certainly highly inward-looking — China can have a bigger say in global and regional governance influence," said Prof Cui.