Taiwan

• President Trump arrived in Beijing for a two-day summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on May 14, 2026, amid geopolitical tensions including the ongoing Iran war that began in February and disputes over Taiwan's status. • Xi warned Trump that mishandling Taiwan could lead to "an extremely dangerous situation," while Trump stated that Xi ruled out providing military equipment to Iran during their talks, calling it "a big statement." • The summit focuses on trade demands, with Trump pressing Xi to "open" China to U.S. business, though breakthrough agreements appear unlikely as both sides prioritize stability over major concessions.

Island breathes sigh of relief as fears recede that US could jettison longstanding supportTrump China visit live – latest updatesBefore this week’s summit between the Chinese and US presidents, Taiwan had been cast as the anxious bystander.Observers suggested that Taipei feared the unpredictable and transactional Donald Trump might overturn Washington’s longstanding support for the island democracy, which Beijing claims as a breakaway province, during Thursday and Friday’s talks. Continue reading...

Chinese president’s comments published after two-hour meeting with Trump. Plus, Stacey Abrams on why gutting of the Voting Rights Act is ‘evil incarnate’Good morning.On the western edge of Tiananmen Square in Beijing, in the imposing Mao-era Great Hall of the People, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping sat down this morning for two hours of talks.What else was on the agenda? The Chinese government said the two leaders discussed the war in the Middle East, the Ukraine conflict and issues on the Korean peninsula. As my colleagues Amy Hawkins and David Smith have written, the US is entering into talks with its superpower rival from a vulnerable position.What is unlikely to be discussed? Unlike under previous US administrations, the visit is not expected to focus on human rights or US-China cooperation to tackle the climate crisis.Follow our live coverage of the summit here.What is Stateside with Kai and Carter? It’s the new flagship video podcast for Guardian US, hosted by the journalists Kai Wright and Carter Sherman. With new episodes three times a week, the show will bring the Guardian’s global perspective and unique lens on America to life. Watch and listen now! Continue reading...

• US President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on May 13, 2026, for a state visit and high-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping addressing major bilateral and global issues. • Key agenda items include US-China trade disputes, rare earth minerals supply chains, Taiwan's political status, artificial intelligence competition, and the ongoing Iran conflict. • The summit represents a critical diplomatic engagement aimed at managing US-China strategic competition and reducing military escalation risks.

Ahead of the crucial talks, security has been heightened in Beijing, with the US president set to meet Xi at the Great Hall of the PeopleThe Trump-Xi summit will span two days. It was originally scheduled for late March or early April but was delayed due to the Iran war.Now that Trump is in China, here are some of the hazards the US president faces. Continue reading...

• Global hedge funds ramped up investments in Asia, with weekly buying of South Korean, Japanese, and Taiwanese stocks reaching a 10-year high for the week ending May 7, according to a Morgan Stanley report. • The surge, the heaviest in over a decade in notional terms, was driven by clients across all regions and strategies targeting Asia's technology sector amid the AI boom. • Hedge funds' net exposure to Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan has risen to its highest since 2010, now at about 19% of global positioning, focusing on semiconductors and hardware in the AI supply chain.

• iShares MSCI South Korea ETF and iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF have risen 239% and 96% respectively over the past 12 months amid AI mania. • South Korea's KOSPI index hit a record 7,899.32 on Monday with a 4% surge, while Taiwan's TAIEX closed above 42,000 for the first time last week. • Goldman Sachs forecasts South Korea's GDP growth at 2.5% in 2026 with AI-related exports tripling to nearly 30% of GDP; Taiwan's GDP expected to accelerate to 10% with similar export rises.