Trump Summit

• President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping held high-stakes talks in Beijing focusing on resolving escalating trade tensions, technology competition, and coordinating responses to Middle Eastern developments. • The two leaders discussed tariff rollbacks, semiconductor supply chain restrictions, and potential joint initiatives on artificial intelligence regulation, with both nations seeking to avoid further economic deterioration. • The summit marks a critical pivot point in US-China relations, with observers noting that agreements reached could reshape global trade dynamics and influence the trajectory of broader geopolitical competition.

• 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.

The Iran war will cast a long shadow over the talks. Plus, the 100 best novels of all timeGood morning.Donald Trump is due to arrive in Beijing on Wednesday evening, the first visit to China by a US president since he was last there nearly a decade ago, as he seeks to mend power and prestige weakened by the war in Iran.What is the state of US-China relations? The two countries remain locked in a fragile tariff truce, reached last autumn after tensions threatened to erupt into a full-scale trade war. Trump has long complained about China’s trade surplus with the US, while Beijing has opposed American export controls and sanctions.What is the latest with the US-Iran ceasefire? The war has entered its third month, with Tehran tightening its grip over the strait of Hormuz and Washington struggling to turn a fragile ceasefire into a lasting settlement. Behind the scenes, US officials have spent weeks urging China to put pressure on Iran to reopen the strait and accept US terms for peace.What did the Atlantic allege? It reported that Patel’s alcohol consumption had become “a recurring source of concern across the government” which made him a “national-security vulnerability”, citing interviews with more than two dozen people including current and former FBI officials. Patel denies all the allegations, calling them “outrageous” and “malicious”. Continue reading...

It will be the first time a US president has visited China in nearly a decade, with the last visit being Trump in 2017Hello and welcome to our live coverage of US politics.Donald Trump is scheduled to travel to China this week to meet with Xi Jinping, China’s leader. It will be the first time a US president has visited China in nearly a decade, with the last visit being Trump in 2017. But given all that has happened so far in Trump’s second term – a trade war and then an actual war with Iran that has led to oil and gas prices skyrocketing worldwide – the mood of this visit is likely to be quite different. Continue reading...

• Taiwanese officials worry that even subtle rhetorical changes from President Trump regarding Taiwan policy could destabilize the decades-long cross-strait status quo, as Trump prepares for a May 14-15 summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. • A White House official reaffirmed that U.S. policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged, based on the Taiwan Relations Act, three U.S.-PRC Joint Communiques, and Six Assurances to Taiwan, with no alterations announced. • Chinese scholars suggest Beijing will pressure Trump to shift declaratory policy—pushing for explicit opposition to Taiwan independence rather than current "not supporting" language—and seek U.S. pre-negotiation on arms sales, both major departures from established policy.

US leader enters talks with superpower rival from vulnerable position, but will be hoping for economic wins amid turbulent backdropIf all goes to plan over the next few days – and that is a big if – Donald Trump will arrive in Beijing on Wednesday for a highly anticipated summit with Xi Jinping, China’s leader.The trip will mark the first time a US president has visited China in nearly a decade. The last visit was also made by Trump, during his first term, in 2017. Continue reading...

• President Trump stated on May 8, 2026, that he hopes Friday's meeting will lead to a second sit-down involving Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy. • Trump tempered expectations for the diplomatic push amid ongoing tensions in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. • The initiative underscores U.S. efforts to broker peace, potentially altering European security dynamics and aid allocations.

• President Trump has warned NATO and China amid an ongoing Iran war that reached its 17th day, with the conflict affecting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and creating economic ripple effects. • Trump told the Financial Times the U.S. "may delay" a scheduled summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in less than three weeks if the strait situation is not resolved, potentially impacting trade negotiations led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. • Middle East experts indicate the war is progressing favorably for the U.S. militarily but facing challenges in other dimensions, with the shipping bottleneck threatening to disrupt global trade during a critical period of U.S.-China relations.

Trump says delay of ‘a month or so’ requested while key official insists move is not to pressure Beijing to help unblock strait of Hormuz; Iraqi officials say drones and rockets attacked embassyEuropean countries reject Trump’s call for help to reopen strait of HormuzHow have you been affected by the latest Middle East events?Are fuel price increases making you cut back? Continue reading...

Pair attempt to strike united front amid reports vice-president skeptical over US-Israeli attack on IranDonald Trump revealed that he had asked China to delay his forthcoming visit to Beijing while the war with Iran was continuing, as he attempted to strike a united front on Monday with his vice-president JD Vance, who is believed to have been skeptical over attacking Tehran’s regime.Appearing together with Vance for the first time in two weeks, Trump said he did not think the conflict – which started on 28 February after the US and Israel opened hostilities – would be over this week but predicted victory would be achieved soon. Continue reading...

• President Trump is conditioning a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Beijing's assistance in securing the Strait of Hormuz, with US-China trade negotiators meeting in Paris ahead of potential talks. • Trump demanded approximately seven countries deploy warships to police the critical waterway, though his appeals have yielded no firm commitments as oil prices surge; China imports roughly 90% of its energy through the strait. • Chinese and US negotiators held candid meetings in Paris, with China signaling willingness to increase purchases of US agricultural products beyond previous soybean pledges, including poultry and beef.

• President Trump is suggesting he may delay his planned visit to China at month's end unless Beijing helps reopen the Strait of Hormuz and address soaring oil prices from the Iran war. • U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met Monday in Paris with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng for trade talks intended to pave the way for Trump's Beijing trip, with a U.S.-China tariff truce currently in place. • Trump's administration is seeking international assistance with naval escort efforts in the strait after initial unilateral approaches proved insufficient as oil prices escalated.