Xi's Rare Back-to-Back Calls with Putin, Trump Signal China's Global Power Play

• Chinese leader Xi Jinping held unusual back-to-back calls with Russia's Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, signaling China's strategic positioning as a stable global power.
• The calls, occurring hours apart, involved discussions on trade, Russia's war in Ukraine, and Iran, with Trump announcing China's commitment to purchase 20 million tons of US soybeans.
• Xi warned the US on Taiwan arms sales, while he and Putin emphasized strengthening Chinese-Russian ties amidst Moscow's diplomatic isolation following the 2022 Ukraine invasion.
• Analysts suggest Xi used the calls for domestic posturing, projecting confidence amid a corruption probe within the People's Liberation Army, and to secure international maneuver space.
• Putin accepted an invitation to visit China in early 2026, and Trump is expected in Beijing in April, indicating ongoing high-level engagements despite potential bilateral challenges.