Following a recent temporary ceasefire related to the Iran conflict, Chinese observers are analyzing the volatile nature of President Trump's negotiating style. Beijing is considering whether this incident suggests increased boldness or simply greater unpredictability in the US political landscape.

A temporary but fragile ceasefire is in place after US President Donald Trump pulled back from the brink of a wider Iran war. For Beijing, as it prepares for Trump’s high-stakes visit planned for next month, the key question is what the Iran crisis reveals about Trump’s governing style, and whether it has left him emboldened or simply more unpredictable and volatile. The episode is the latest example of what Chinese observers call Trump’s “split” style: abrupt swings between conciliatory talk of...