Trump Showcases Historical Documents to Xi Jinping

During a visit to the National Archives on Friday, President Trump reportedly presented Chinese President Xi Jinping with a selection of historical documents that some believe convey a significant message to Beijing.

Henry Gao, a law professor from Singapore Management University, remarked that the items might be interpreted very differently from a Chinese perspective.

According to Kellie Meyer, a White House correspondent for News Nation, a source familiar with the display indicated that the showcased items included the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, a brick from the Great Wall of China, and two treaties from the 19th century between the U.S. and China. Additionally, there was an 1895 letter from China’s Guangxu Emperor and the 1951 Treaty of San Francisco.

Gao highlighted both the 1844 Treaty of Wanghia and the 1858 Treaty of Tientsin, noting that China views them as unequal agreements.

He also mentioned a letter from the emperor to President Grover Cleveland, thanking an American diplomat for his role in negotiations during the First Sino-Japanese War, which resulted in the Treaty of Shimonoseki—leading to Taiwan being ceded to Japan.

Gao pointed out that the Treaty of San Francisco stood out as a particularly notable document. China was left out of this peace treaty with Japan, and it continues to dispute the terms regarding Taiwan. Just last November, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry described provisions about Taiwan and territorial sovereignty as “entirely illegal and null and void.”

The display, according to Gao, could be perceived by Beijing as a warning regarding what concessions Washington might demand in future negotiations.

Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA) shared his thoughts with host Matthew Boyle on Breitbart News Saturday about the significance of the historical documents shown to Xi. Although McCormick admitted he wasn’t sure why Trump selected those pieces specifically, he speculated that it was intended to reinforce America’s position as a world leader.

“I can’t claim to understand the president’s motivations, so I won’t make assumptions. But my wife was present during President Xi’s visit to Mar-a-Lago, and I suspect that Trump aimed to convey to Xi the strength of America’s commitment to its role on the global stage,” McCormick remarked.