Trump Heads to Beijing for High-Stakes Summit with Xi on Taiwan, Trade, and Iran War
President Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing from May 14-15 for a summit with major implications for Taiwan, US-China trade, and the ongoing Iran war. Taiwan is expected to be the top issue, with China seeking to change US diplomatic language on the island's status.
Summit Agenda
President Donald Trump's May 14–15, 2026, visit to the People's Republic of China (PRC) will likely represent a relatively modest step toward greater stability and predictability in the world's most important bilateral relationship. Trump and Xi are set to enter talks with a sprawling agenda spanning trade, Taiwan, the Iran war and more. The summit outcome could have major ramifications for global trade, geopolitics, and the rules-based order, analysts say.
Taiwan in Focus
Ownership of the island is the top issue in the U.S.-Chinese relationship. China wants Mr. Trump to change the U.S. government's official language on Taiwan from saying that it "does not support" the island's independence to saying that America "opposes" Taiwanese independence. The territory produces 90% of the world's high-end semiconductors used for AI and defense technology.
Pre-Summit Preparations
Top officials including Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will meet in South Korea on Wednesday to discuss economic and trade issues, before the Beijing summit.