Trump heads to China for high-stakes talks with Xi
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to Beijing. The US president is traveling to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping as both nations aim to uphold a tentative trade truce while addressing complex issues including Iran, Taiwan, and control over global supply chains.
Iran remains a potential source of tension during these discussions. Trump has sought China’s assistance—given its close alliance with Iran and status as the world’s largest buyer of Iranian oil—to persuade Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and bring an end to the ongoing conflict. This visit marks Trump’s first trip to China in nearly nine years and comes amid hopes that the US-Israeli conflict with Iran might conclude soon. It follows closely after Beijing showcased its strong ties with Tehran by hosting Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
In exchange for China’s cooperation, Xi Jinping is expected to seek concessions, particularly concerning Taiwan. The self-governing island is claimed by Beijing as part of its territory. China desires the US to formally oppose Taiwanese sovereignty and to delay or limit arms sales to Taiwan. Trump indicated yesterday that Washington’s longstanding support for Taiwan’s defense would be a topic during the summit in Beijing.
“President Xi would like us not to, and I’ll have that discussion,”Trump told reporters.
“That’s one of the many things I’ll be talking about.”
The last meeting between the two leaders in October resulted in a pause to escalating trade tariffs scheduled for 2025. In February of the previous year, Trump imposed 20% tariffs on Chinese goods after accusing China of facilitating the influx of fentanyl into the US. China retaliated by imposing tariffs of 15% on coal and liquefied natural gas imports from the US, and 10% on oil and agricultural machinery.
Trump is expected to arrive in Beijing tomorrow night for a two-day summit. His itinerary includes bilateral meetings, a visit to the Temple of Heaven, a state dinner on Thursday evening, and a tea meeting with Xi on Friday before his departure, according to reports.
Pete Hegseth testifies on Capitol Hill
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is testifying before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense today. He is responding to lawmakers’ questions regarding the White House’s Pentagon budget request, which proposes an increase of over $400 billion for the fiscal year 2027, bringing the total to $1.5 trillion.
Joining Hegseth is Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine, who is overseeing military operations in Iran. Both officials will later face inquiries from the Senate subcommittee counterpart.
Earlier, Representative Betty McCollum, the top Democrat on the defense appropriations committee, requested that Hegseth provide the committee with a contingency plan (“plan B”) should Congress decline to authorize continued military operations against Iran beyond May 2, as required under the War Powers Act.
Hegseth responded:
“We have a plan for all of that. We have a plan to escalate if necessary we have a plan to retrograde if necessary we have a plan to shift assets,”adding,
“We wouldn’t reveal what the next step may be, considering the gravity of the mission that the President undertaking to ensure that Iran never has a nuclear bomb.”
Despite this, McCollum pressed the defense secretary to submit plans for a potential troop drawdown by June 11, when lawmakers will markup the Pentagon spending bill.
Hegseth began his testimony by defending Trump’s defense budget request:
“President Trump inherited a defence industrial base that had been hollowed out by years of America last policies,”he said.
“We are reversing this systemic decay and putting our defence industrial base back on a wartime footing.”
He further emphasized:
“The $1.5tn budget will ensure the United States continues to maintain the world’s most powerful and capable military.”
Trump’s itinerary and statements ahead of China trip
Trump will begin his day in Washington with meetings and an interview before departing for China. His travel will include a stop in Anchorage, Alaska, at 2pm ET before continuing to Beijing for three days of meetings. Updates will be provided as his journey progresses, especially if he addresses the press.
On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump announced that Cuba has requested assistance, stating:
“No Republican has ever spoken to me about Cuba, which is a failed country and only heading in one direction – down! Cuba is asking for help, and we are going to talk!!! In the meantime, I’m off to China!”
Regarding the conflict with Iran, Trump described the fragile ceasefire as being “on life support” after dismissing Tehran’s peace proposal as “totally unacceptable.” He told reporters in the Oval Office:
“I would call it the weakest, right now, after reading that piece of garbage they sent us – I didn’t even finish reading it,”and added,
“I would say the ceasefire is on massive life support, where the doctor walks in and says: ‘Sir, your loved one has approximately a 1% chance of living.’”
For the latest updates, follow our Middle East live blog.
Trump’s tech-focused guest list for China visit
Trump’s visit to China also includes a focus on technology. According to Blake Montgomery, the guest list suggests technology will be a key discussion topic. On Monday, it was announced that outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook, as well as SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, will join the US president. Other notable attendees from the tech sector include Meta’s newly appointed president Dina Powell McCormick; Sanjay Mehrotra, CEO of computer memory manufacturer Micron; Chuck Robbins, CEO of telecom giant Cisco; and Cristiano Amon, CEO of semiconductor maker Qualcomm, according to a White House official.
Whether this trip will lead to a surge in tech deals remains to be seen. While Trump showcases some of America’s leading business figures—products of his hands-off policy encouraging technological innovation—his administration appears to be taking cues from China’s more stringent approach to artificial intelligence regulation. China’s policies require AI companies to submit their models to Beijing for review concerning security and political sensitivity. These regulations prohibit content that threatens national security or is politically objectionable to Beijing.
of Blake’s analysis here.
