“‘The big issues on China’s mind are Hong Kong, Taiwan and the economy,’ said Daniel Russel, who served as the top State Department official for Asia during the Obama administration and is vice president at the Asia Society Policy Institute.
“‘It would be normal for Yang to use this meeting to lower the temperature on Hong Kong, reassuring Pompeo that the national security law is not as bad as people claim,’ Mr. Russel said.
“‘On Taiwan, expect him to try to ward off further action like high-level meetings with Taiwanese officials or even a U.S. naval ship visit to a Taiwanese port,’ he added. ‘The Chinese may also be worried that Trump might abandon the trade deal in favor of looking tough and reimposing large-scale tariffs…'”