By Ginika Igboke
Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping held separate talks with U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Feb. 4, pledging to significantly increase purchases of U.S. agricultural products and inviting both leaders to visit China.
Analysts say the unusual same-day outreach comes amid intense internal tensions within the CCP following the recent removal of senior military figures, signaling potential instability within Xi’s leadership circle.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Xi conducted separate calls with Putin and Trump, extending invitations for state visits. Trump later confirmed the conversation on Truth Social, calling it a “long and thorough call” and describing his relationship with Xi as “extremely good.”
According to Trump, Xi committed to purchasing 20 million tons of U.S. soybeans this quarter and an additional 25 million tons next quarter—well above last year’s annual agreement of 25 million tons. China also pledged to increase imports of U.S. oil, natural gas, and aircraft engines.
Earlier that day, Xi held a video meeting with Putin at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, where the two discussed strengthening multilateral cooperation as permanent members of the U.N. Security Council.
Tang Jingyuan, a U.S.-based political commentator, said on his “Foresight” program that Chinese government statements did not indicate the calls were made at the request of Washington or Moscow, suggesting Xi initiated both conversations. He noted the symbolic weight of contacting Trump—viewed as a key geopolitical rival—and Putin—considered a close strategic partner—on the same day.
“This shows that Xi has important matters to discuss with them and cannot delegate those discussions to others,” Tang said.
Military Shakeup Raises Questions
Observers link Xi’s diplomatic outreach to recent upheaval within China’s military leadership.
On Jan. 24, China’s Ministry of National Defense announced that Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the CCP’s Central Military Commission, and Liu Zhenli, a commission member and chief of the Joint Staff Department, were removed from their posts and placed under investigation for alleged serious disciplinary and legal violations.
Tang said Xi may have underestimated internal resistance to the purge. He described an unusual silence among key military bodies that typically voice swift public support during leadership reshuffles. The absence of immediate endorsements, analysts say, could indicate unresolved tensions or dissent within the armed forces.
On Feb. 4, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress revoked the representative credentials of three executives from state-owned defense enterprises. However, it did not announce the anticipated removal of Zhang and Liu’s legislative titles. Tang characterized this as a second failed attempt to formalize the purge, following a late-January Politburo meeting that also did not complete standard internal procedures.
Tang argued that Xi’s simultaneous outreach to Washington and Moscow was aimed at leveraging foreign relations to strengthen his domestic standing.
“This indicates an unstable internal situation,” Tang said, adding that a secure leader would not need to rely heavily on foreign engagement to reinforce authority.
Balancing Global Optics
Lai Rongwei, a Taiwanese researcher on international relations and CEO of the Taiwan Inspirational Association, said the calls reflect Beijing’s desire to project stability at a time of domestic uncertainty.
“Xi Jinping currently faces numerous domestic problems, including frequent personnel changes in his military. The world is questioning the stability of his regime and whether he is fully in control,” Lai said.
According to Lai, Xi must present both a domestic and international image of strength, especially as China positions itself alongside the United States and Russia as a dominant global power.
No Immediate Policy Shift
Shen Ming-shih, a research fellow at Taiwan’s Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said the calls were unlikely to involve formal negotiations. Instead, they likely served to exchange positions and reduce misunderstandings.
“Most importantly, Xi Jinping needed to quickly call Trump after speaking with Putin to avoid any misunderstanding from Trump about whether China and Russia are coordinating or planning something together,” Shen said.
Shen added that even if Trump agrees to visit China, it would not necessarily signal a shift in U.S. policy. Any visit would likely focus on economic matters such as tariffs, trade, and rare earth supply chains rather than broader strategic realignments.
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