CA, US & World
Trump and Xi Hold Talks in Beijing, Covering Trade, Iran, and Taiwan
President Trump wrapped the first day of a high-profile visit to China with a state dinner in Beijing last night, capping two hours of talks that covered trade, the ongoing war with Iran, and the future of Taiwan.
Trump called Chinese President Xi Jinping a friend and described the meetings as "extremely positive and productive," though the visit carried real tensions beneath the pageantry. A military honor guard, cultural site visits, and a seat at a lavish dinner table set the tone, but the substance of the conversations touched on some of the sharpest points of friction between the two countries.
Trade was a central focus, with several leading American CEOs making the trip alongside the president. Trump said both sides "look forward to trade and doing business," and the White House confirmed the two governments discussed expanded economic cooperation.
The war with Iran and the Strait of Hormuz also came up. China is Tehran's most powerful ally and its biggest buyer of oil, giving Beijing unusual influence over how the conflict develops. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. is pushing China to use that leverage. "It's in their interest to resolve this," Rubio said. "We hope to convince them to play a more active role in getting Iran to walk away from what they're doing now."
Taiwan emerged as China's clearest priority. A Chinese government spokesperson said Xi warned Trump directly that mishandling the issue could lead to conflict between the two superpowers. The U.S. is Taiwan's largest supplier of defensive weapons, and Trump had said he intended to raise the topic with Xi. That announcement drew sharp criticism from Democrats. Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut called it "a possible sellout of Taiwan."
Xi has framed the broader relationship as one of partnership rather than rivalry, as the visit continues and the two sides work through one of the most complex foreign relationships any American president faces.
By: NBC Palm Springs
May 14, 2026
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