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LiveTrump, Xi agree Strait of Hormuz ‘must remain open’ at summit as China warns US over Taiwan

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The 2-hour meeting between the leaders also took in discussions on trade.

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Alessia Mah, Laura Chia

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Published: May 14, 2026

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\r\n","liveBlogId","2281","isLiveBlog",true,"isMultidayLiveblog",false,"multidayLiveBlogMapping",[],"uniqueName","live-trump-xi-summit-china-2026","infiniteScroll",{"_45":46},"additionalStories",[],"advertisements",[49,57,61],{"_5":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56},"lb1","page","liveblog","slot","/5908/st/lb1/liveblog","id","dfp-ad-lb1",{"_5":58,"_51":52,"_53":59,"_55":60},"catfish","/5908/st/catfish/liveblog","dfp-ad-catfish",{"_5":62,"_51":52,"_53":63,"_55":64},"prestitial","/5908/st/prestitial/liveblog","dfp-ad-prestitial","metaData",{"_20":67,"_68":67,"_69":67,"_70":42,"_23":71,"_72":71,"_73":74,"_75":76,"_77":78,"_79":80},"Live: Trump, Xi agree Strait of Hormuz ‘must remain open’ at summit as China warns US over Taiwan","ogTitle","twitterTitle","slug","Mr Xi told Mr Trump that trade talks were making progress but warned that disagreement over Taiwan could send ties down a dangerous path.","ogDescription","jsonLd","{\"@context\":\"https:\\/\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"LiveBlogPosting\",\"@id\":\"https:\\/\\/www.straitstimes.com\\/live-trump-xi-summit-china-2026\",\"headline\":\"Trump-Xi summit 2026\",\"description\":\"\",\"coverageStartTime\":\"2026-05-14T06:00:00+08:00\",\"coverageEndTime\":\"2026-05-14T23:59:00+08:00\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.straitstimes.com\\/assets\\/ST-logo-default-aoeSLh4S.png\",\"width\":\"1228\",\"height\":\"96\"}},\"liveBlogUpdate\":[{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Trump, Xi agree Strait of Hormuz must stay open, White House says\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T16:58:42+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T16:58:42+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping agreed in a meeting that the Strait of Hormuz must be open for the free flow of energy, according to a White House readout of the summit on Thursday.Mr Trump and Mr Xi also discussed building on progress in ending the flow of fentanyl precursor chemicals into the US, as well as increasing Chinese purchases of American agricultural products, the statement said.PHOTO: AFP \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"msazali\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Musk, Rubio, Hegseth: A quick look at Trump\\u2019s entourage to China\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T16:30:15+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T16:30:15+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Mr Trump\\u2019s entourage for his trip to China includes top administration officials, several of the country\\u2019s most powerful executives and members of the Trump family, like his son and daughter-in-law.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is travelling with Mr Trump \\u2013 despite sanctions China imposed on him in 2020 over his comments about its human rights record \\u2013 and Mr Pete Hegseth is the first sitting defence secretary to visit China since Mr Jim Mattis in 2018.Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is also in the entourage, after meeting with China\\u2019s Vice-Premier He Lifeng in South Korea before Mr Trump\\u2019s meetings with Mr Xi.Mr Elon Musk of Tesla and SpaceX, who was a top adviser to Mr Trump for a few months in 2025, is also among the many business leaders in attendance.READ MORE HERE PHOTO: AFP\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"laura\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"An evolution of the Thucydides Trap, according to Xi\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T16:00:01+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T16:02:34+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"It is notable that Chinese President Xi Jinping chose to open his bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump by referencing the Thucydides Trap, especially when the brief opening sentences from each side are closely parsed for any public messaging before camera crews are ushered out of the room.Mr Xi set the tone by suggesting that their meeting had captured worldwide attention, with the global environment \\u201cinterwoven with turmoil\\u201d. Notably, he contended that the world has \\u201carrived at a new crossroads\\u201d.\\u201cCan China and the United States overcome the so-called Thucydides Trap and create a new paradigm for relations between major powers?\\u201d he asked.It contrasts with Mr Xi\\u2019s previous references to the Thucydides Trap, the theory that conflict becomes inevitable when a rising power challenges an established one, drawn from ancient Greek historian Thucydides\\u2019 account of the three-decade Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta. The theory has been popularised by modern foreign policy analysts to frame the rivalry between China and the US.In 2015, in a speech he delivered in Seattle on a state visit during the Obama administration, Mr Xi dismissed the existence of such a trap. \\u201cThere is no such thing as the so-called Thucydides trap in the world. But should major countries time and again make the mistakes of strategic miscalculation, they might create such traps for themselves,\\u201d he said.By 2024, he told then President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Lima: \\u201cThe Thucydides Trap is not a historical inevitability.\\u201dWith Mr Trump in the White House, it appears Mr Xi now concedes that the trap of great power rivalry must now be overcome, even if he closed his opening remarks with the positive spin of aspiring to work together with the US as partners, and not rivals. PHOTO: AFP\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"msazali\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"China pulls export licences for US beef plants shortly after renewing them\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T14:51:39+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T15:32:17+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Export licences to China for hundreds of US beef plants that had just been renewed after a year-plus hiatus are now listed as expired, Reuters reported, citing Chinese customs.Their registration status, which had been listed as \\u201ceffective\\u201d earlier on Thursday, later reverted to \\u201cexpired\\u201d, the customs website showed.China\\u2019s General Administration of Customs was not reachable by phone and did not immediately respond to faxed questions from Reuters about why the change had been made.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Chinese public greets Trump in Beijing with AI memes, confidence\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T15:30:12+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T15:30:12+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"People in China were having fun watching the landmark visit by Mr Trump, creating AI memes and telling light-hearted jokes about his high-profile entourage, though some also complained about the disruptions the visit is causing.Mr Trump\\u2019s visit to Beijing has been the top trending topic on the microblogging site Weibo in recent days. People have been posting every detail they could scrounge up about the event, such as photos of the American military transport planes that shipped over Mr Trump\\u2019s car and other items, as well as the flight path of Air Force One.More than eight million people watched the arrival ceremony for Mr Trump on Wednesday evening via state broadcaster CCTV\\u2019s app, while millions more followed on popular streaming sites such as Douyin.Chinese internet users also used AI tools to make memes about the summit. One that went viral shows Mr Trump, Mr Xi, Apple\\u2019s Tim Cook and Mr Elon Musk sitting at a roadside table wearing tank-top shirts, eating meat skewers and downing beers.Some residents of the Chinese capital complained about traffic disruptions from Mr Trump\\u2019s motorcade. But sightings of the presidential limo known as The Beast were also a source of excitement online.READ MORE HEREPHOTO: AFP\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"laura\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"China senses opportunity to press Trump on Taiwan issue\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T15:15:09+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T15:15:09+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Ahead of the meeting, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had warned in an April 30 phone call with his American counterpart Marco Rubio that the Taiwan issue represents the \\u201cbiggest risk\\u201d in China-US relations.So it was of little surprise that on Thursday, Chinese official news agency Xinhua reported Mr Xi as telling Mr Trump that the Taiwan issue is the most important one when it comes to bilateral ties.Beijing\\u2019s proactivity in raising the issue this time around was a notable departure from the two leaders\\u2019 last meeting in South Korea in October 2025, when the American President said the Taiwan issue was not discussed.China senses an opportunity to press Mr Trump on this issue, and would view any rhetorical shift favourably, such as if Mr Trump says the US \\u201copposes\\u201d \\u2013 rather than \\u201cdoes not support\\u201d \\u2013 Taiwan independence.But even if Mr Trump makes such a statement, it is unlikely to shift Washington\\u2019s longer-term security commitments to the self-governing island, given the opposition from Congress and members of Mr Trump\\u2019s own administration, such as Mr Marco Rubio.A key issue to watch is when and whether a delayed arms sale package worth US$14 billion (S$17.8 billion), which is bigger than the US$11 billion package announced in December 2025, would go ahead. It is currently awaiting approval from Mr Trump.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Where emperors prayed: Visit to Temple of Heaven carries historical symbolism\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T15:00:56+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T15:04:02+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"After more than two hours of talks between President Xi Jinping and his American counterpart Donald Trump, their visit to Beijing\\u2019s Temple of Heaven carried heavy political symbolism.The sprawling 273-hectare complex was where Ming and Qing emperors prayed for harmony, prosperity and, importantly, the divine legitimacy of their rule.During Mr Trump\\u2019s and Mr Xi\\u2019s visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, they posed for pictures with The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests in the backdrop before touring the hall.For President Trump, the setting could reflect the Republican\\u2019s own political priorities on US agriculture. Analysts have predicted that the US will finalise deals for China to purchase more soybeans, as well as US commercial aircraft and energy, during this week\\u2019s talks.A deal on soybeans would be an important win \\u201cbecause of their relevance to the agricultural sector ahead of the US midterm elections,\\u201d said Professor John Quelch, an expert in global strategy at Duke Kunshan University, in an interview with The Straits Times.\\u201cIt\\u2019s important to President Trump that he secures the support that he had in 2024 from US farmers.\\u201dIn 1975, Republican president Gerald Ford was another US president who visited the Temple of Heaven while still in office. The Republican was the first US leader to visit China after the normalisation of Sino-US relations, according to a list of US presidential visits to China compiled by state broadcaster CGTN.Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had also toured the site in 2023, as he made an official visit to mend relations with China after tensions with its major trading partner stemming from security worries to the origin of COVID-19. Mr Xi did not accompany him.In recent years, no Chinese head of state has accompanied a foreign dignitary to the Temple of Heaven.PHOTO: AFP\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"China\\u2019s Xi hails \\u2018new positioning\\u2019 in ties with US\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T14:40:15+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T14:40:15+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Mr Xi on Thursday hailed a \\u201cnew positioning\\u201d of bilateral ties with the US after his summit with Mr Trump, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.Mr Xi said both leaders agreed that building a constructive, strategically stable relationship will provide guidance for bilateral relations in the next three years and beyond, CCTV said.He added that both countries should expand cooperation in trade, agriculture, healthcare, tourism and law enforcement.Mr Xi also said he exchanged views on the war in the Middle East, the Ukraine conflict and issues on the Korean Peninsula with Mr Trump.PHOTO: AFP\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"China\\u2019s doors to world \\u2018will open wider\\u2019: Xi to US business leaders\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T14:20:22+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T14:33:42+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Mr Xi told a delegation of US business executives that China would \\u201copen wider\\u201d to the world during US-China talks in Beijing on Thursday.\\u201cChina\\u2019s doors to the outside world will open wider and wider... American companies will enjoy even brighter prospects in China,\\u201d Mr Xi said, according to Chinese state media.Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang, Tesla boss Elon Musk and Apple\\u2019s Tim Cook are among the business leaders who travelled to China with Mr Trump.PHOTO: AFP\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Ng Huiwen\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"China renews licences for hundreds of US beef exporters\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T14:00:09+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T14:00:09+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"China has renewed export licences for hundreds of US beef processing plants, customs data showed, in a possible goodwill gesture as the leaders of both countries met in Beijing on Thursday.More than 400 US beef plants lost export eligibility over the past year as Beijing\\u2019s permissions, granted between March 2020 and April 2021, lapsed without the customary renewal, accounting for roughly 65 per cent of the once-registered facilities.Agriculture has been expected to play a big part in any trade deal, and the renewals are the first official pointer to likely elements of a final package being shaped in talks between Mr Trump and Mr Xi.PHOTO: REUTERS\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Trump leaves Temple of Heaven\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T13:52:44+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T13:55:26+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Mr Trump has left the Temple of Heaven, after a tour with Mr Xi.The leaders are expected to return to the Great Hall of the People at 6pm for a state banquet.PHOTO: REUTERS\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"\\u2018China\\u2019s beautiful\\u2019, says Trump as leaders arrive at Temple of Heaven\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T13:09:49+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T13:33:13+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Mr Trump and Mr Xi have arrived for their tour of the historic Temple of Heaven, a UNESCO World Heritage site that dates back to the 15th century.About 7km south of Beijing\\u2019s Forbidden City, the religious complex houses the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, where Ming and Qing dynasty emperors once offered sacrifices to heaven and prayed for bumper harvests every year.\\u201cAs a Chinese leader, this is the perfect backdrop to show the depth of Chinese history and how long it is, how sophisticated it is,\\u201d Mr Lars Ulrik Thom, a Beijing-based historian, told Reuters.For Mr Trump, the setting carries a more literal resonance: Agriculture will be high on his list of priorities, with US farmers looking for bigger Chinese purchases of soya beans, other crops and meat.\\u201cGreat place, incredible,\\u201d Mr Trump said to Mr Xi as the two presidents posed for a photo at the Temple of Heaven, in front of the iconic main hall. \\u201cChina's beautiful.\\u201dPHOTO: REUTERS\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"emswong\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Caution beneath Chinese hospitality\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T13:25:45+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T13:25:45+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"As the visit proceeds apace with all the appropriate pomp and pageantry, there remains caution beneath the Chinese hospitality.Mr Trump is erratic and has publicly slighted foreign leaders before. There is very little chance he would do so to Mr Xi, whom he has called a \\u201cgreat leader\\u201d, but the Chinese leadership still remembers how Mr Xi was blindsided during previous meetings.In April 2017, during Mr Trump\\u2019s first meeting with Mr Xi at Mar\\u2011a\\u2011Lago, the US President waited until dessert to inform his guest that he had just ordered 59 cruise missiles to strike Syria, a move widely read in Beijing as a muscular show of force and a warning about what Washington might do on other fronts.Nor has Beijing forgotten that around the time of Mr Xi\\u2019s dinner with Mr Trump at the G20 in Buenos Aires in December 2018, Canada arrested Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou on a US extradition request, an episode that plunged China-US ties into a deep freeze for years.As the People\\u2019s Daily commentary wrote on May 13, \\u201cChina-US relations cannot return to the past, but can have a better future\\u201d. China has no intention of letting Mr Xi be wrong-footed by Mr Trump again.One form of insurance Beijing may have taken is inviting Iran\\u2019s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to Beijing just days before the summit. The move serves as an implicit reminder that China retains channels to Tehran that Washington may find useful amid the Strait of Hormuz crisis \\u2013 leverage that can just as easily be withheld if Mr Trump springs any nasty surprises at this summit.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"emswong\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Taiwan says it is grateful for longstanding US support\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T13:02:16+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T13:08:18+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"The US has repeatedly reaffirmed its clear position of firm support for Taiwan and the government is very grateful, Taiwan\\u2019s Cabinet spokesperson Michelle Lee told reporters on Thursday, when asked about the summit of US and Chinese leaders now being held in Beijing.She added that China\\u2019s military threat is the sole source of insecurity in the Taiwan Strait and the broader Indo-Pacific region.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Ng Huiwen\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Trump-Xi meeting ends after 2 hours\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T12:51:17+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T12:58:14+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"The first bilateral meeting between Mr Trump and Mr Xi has ended.It lasted about two hours.Mr Xi also met the business leaders accompanying Mr Trump, such as Mr Elon Musk and Mr Jensen Huang.PHOTO: REUTERS\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Discussions still ongoing\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T12:41:55+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T12:41:55+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Bilateral discussions between Mr Trump and Mr Xi are still going on behind closed doors.Mr Trump was initially scheduled to leave for a visit to the Temple of Heaven around noon, but it appears that this has been pushed back. PHOTO: REUTERS\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Ng Huiwen\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Xi tells Trump that US, China could \\u2018come into conflict\\u2019 if Taiwan issue mishandled: State media\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T12:30:02+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T12:41:33+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Mr Xi told Mr Trump on Thursday that their countries could come into conflict if the issue over self-ruled Taiwan claimed by Beijing is mishandled, Chinese state media said.\\u201cThe Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations,\\u201d Mr Xi said, according to state broadcaster CCTV.\\u201cIf mishandled, the two nations could collide or even come into conflict, pushing the entire China-US relationship into a highly perilous situation.\\u201dChina views democratically governed Taiwan as its territory \\u2013 a claim that Taipei rejects \\u2013 and opposes US arms sales to the island.PHOTO: AFP\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Trump wants China to buy a lot more US energy, but analysts doubt he\\u2019ll get his way\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T12:20:19+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T12:20:19+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Mr Trump is expected to push China to commit to buying more American oil and gas, but while there could be some short-term concessions, Mr Trump\\u2019s \\u201cenergy dominance\\u201d agenda will face stiff resistance from Beijing, say analysts.The US \\u2013 the largest oil and gas producer in the world \\u2013 has become an attractive option for Chinese buyers seeking alternatives to its crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports that have been disrupted by the Middle East conflict.However, China is prioritising energy independence in the long term and views the US as an unreliable trading partner. One expert said China is unlikely to put itself in a vulnerable position where it is dependent on a rival for its energy imports.Furthermore, the US is facing its own domestic complications that could limit Mr Trump\\u2019s energy leverage, like the high prices of petrol across the country and record-low inventories.READ MORE HEREPHOTO: AFP\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Trump and Xi signal warmth, personal rapport at welcome ceremony\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T12:00:15+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T12:03:08+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"The optics outside Beijing\\u2019s Great Hall of the People were unmistakably warm. President Xi Jinping greeted President Donald Trump with a full ceremonial welcome complete with an honour guard, military band and a red-carpet reception on Tiananmen Square.Following handshakes, the two leaders walked past military guards of honour, a large group of Chinese children who jumped and waved US and Chinese flags, and small bouquets of pink and red flowers.Signs of personal rapport could be seen between the two leaders. Mr Trump patted Mr Xi on the arm as they walked up the steps to the Great Hall, while the two leaders chatted cordially before entering the building at the end of the ceremony.The TV broadcast then cut to a meeting room for their opening remarks. Sitting across from Mr Trump, Mr Xi welcomed the US delegation and said that the world \\u201chas once again reached a new crossroads\\u201d.\\u201cCan China and the US transcend the Thucydides Trap and forge a new large-country relationship \\u2013 this is an \\u2018answer sheet\\u2019 that leaders of large countries need to write together,\\u201d Mr Xi said.Referring to the arrival ceremony, Mr Trump said it \\u201cwas an honour\\u201d, adding that he was particularly impressed by the children. \\u201cThey were happy. They were beautiful,\\u201d he said.PHOTO: KENNY HOLSTON\\/NYTIMES\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Trump to discuss Iran war with Xi but says US doesn\\u2019t need help\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T11:40:09+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T12:01:11+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Mr Trump has previously downplayed the amount of attention he would devote to the Iran war during his summit with Mr Xi, claiming that the US does not \\u201cneed any help with Iran\\u201d.\\u201cWe have a lot of things to discuss. I wouldn\\u2019t say Iran is one of them, to be honest with you, because we have Iran very much under control,\\u201d he told reporters on Tuesday before he departed for Beijing.A senior US official had said on Monday that the revenue that China provides to Iran, as well as potential weapons exports, would be among the topics discussed at the summit.On Monday, the US issued sanctions against 12 individuals and entities that it said facilitated the sale and shipment of Iranian oil to China. The US had earlier sanctioned multiple Chinese companies for purchasing Iranian oil or providing satellite imagery to Iran.China\\u2019s Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said the two leaders will exchange views on \\u201cmajor issues concerning China-US relations as well as world peace and development\\u201d.READ MORE HEREPHOTO: REUTERS\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"We should be partners and not rivals, Xi tells Trump in opening remarks\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T10:50:21+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T11:47:10+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Mr Trump and Mr Xi, along with officials from both sides, have taken their seats in the Great Hall of the People and bilateral talks have kicked off.In his opening remarks to Mr Trump, Mr Xi said he believes the two countries have more common interests than differences and that one\\u2019s success is an opportunity for the other.\\u201cChina and the United States both stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation,\\u201d Mr Xi said. \\u201cWe should be partners, not rivals.\\u201d\\u201cWe should help each other succeed and prosper together and find the right way for major countries to get along well with each other in the new era,\\u201d he said.He added that he looks forward to talks with Mr Trump and hopes 2026 will be a historic and landmark year for China-US relations.READ MORE HEREPHOTO: REUTERS\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"US and China \\u2018going to have a fantastic future together\\u2019, says Trump\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T10:52:12+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T11:46:49+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Speaking after Mr Xi, Mr Trump said he has a \\u201cfantastic relationship\\u201d with the Chinese President, adding that China-US relations are \\u201cgoing to be better than ever before\\u201d.\\u201cI really look very much forward to our discussion. It's a big discussion. There are those that say this is maybe the biggest summit ever,\\u201d he said.He added that his entourage of businessmen is looking forward to discussing trade and doing business, which will be \\u201ctotally reciprocal on our behalf\\u201d.READ MORE HEREPHOTO: REUTERS\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"No \\u2018big fat hug\\u2019 but visit is hitting all the right notes so far\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T11:04:49+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T11:43:54+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Can China and the US escape the \\u201cThucydides trap\\u201d? China\\u2019s President Xi Jinping put the question to US President Donald Trump rhetorically, as they sat down for talks in Beijing. Mr Xi was referring to the theory that war often breaks out when a rising power challenges an incumbent one \\u2013 in this case, China and the US respectively. \\u201cThis is the answer to our times that you and I, as leaders of major powers, must write together,\\u201d he later told Mr Trump, casting the summit in almost historical terms and portraying the two leaders as personally responsible for preventing US-China rivalry from tipping into open confrontation. There was no \\u201cbig fat hug\\u201d as Mr Trump had promised, but a firm handshake and smiles when both leaders met. The visit seems to be hitting all the right notes so far. China sent Vice-President Han Zheng to receive Mr Trump at the airport on Wednesday, a protocol upgrade from then state councillor and top diplomat Yang Jiechi, who played that role during Mr Trump\\u2019s last visit in November 2017. From the airport reception to the welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People, Beijing is signalling loudly \\u2013 as the light displays on its skyscrapers proclaim \\u2013 \\u201cBeijing welcomes you\\u201d.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Ng Huiwen\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Americans fear Xi may get the better of Trump\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T11:20:07+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T11:20:07+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"US President Donald Trump has just begun his first of several meetings with China's President Xi Jinping in Beijing.How much ground will he cede during the May 14 and 15 state visit, either as a grandiose gesture or a concession, wangled out of him by a savvier adversary?Americans remained nervous about what their leader could give up.Even before he had exchanged a word, prominent voices in the US foreign policy establishment and mainstream media practically declared that China would win this round of superpower armwrestling. Even if it was styled as a friendly match.\\u201cMr Trump\\u2019s overriding desire for visibly warm ties with Mr Xi has presented Beijing with a unique opportunity to trade optics for substance in pursuit of concessions on its foremost strategic priority, Taiwan,\\u201d said Ms Levin, senior fellow with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, in a May 13 article in Foreign Policy.The substance of Mr Trump\\u2019s strategy is a risk, Ms Levin said. The way Washington has separated its diplomacy with Beijing from efforts to compete for influence globally has enabled China to weaponise the appearance of the US-Chinese rapprochement, she said.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Welcome ceremony ends and bilateral meeting begins\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T10:35:33+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T10:54:30+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Mr Trump and Mr Xi have entered the Great Hall of People, marking the end of the welcome ceremony and the start of bilateral talks.The Chinese President had greeted the US leader at the opulent venue just past 10am in a grand reception that belied the deep tensions between the world\\u2019s biggest economies.Mr Xi shook hands with several US officials, including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was known throughout his career as a fierce opponent of Beijing.Then, both of them stood in the centre as a Chinese military band played both the American national anthem and the Chinese one as cannons fired.Jumping schoolchildren in brightly coloured outfits waving US and Chinese flags chanted \\u201cwelcome, welcome\\u201d as Mr Trump and Mr Xi walked past them in the square.Later today, Mr Trump will visit the historic Temple of Heaven, a World Heritage site where China\\u2019s emperors once prayed for a good harvest.PHOTOS: REUTERS\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Ng Huiwen\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Trump arrives at Great Hall of the People, shakes hands with Xi\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T10:10:23+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T10:21:52+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Mr Trump\\u2019s motorcade has arrived at the Great Hall of the People.He shakes hands with Mr Xi and both of them make their way down the red carpet, greeting Chinese officials.Also present are members of the US delegation including State Secretary Marco Rubio, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and business executives like Mr Elon Musk.PHOTOS: REUTERS\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Ng Huiwen\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"In pictures: Getting ready to welcome Trump\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T10:00:03+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T10:00:03+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Final preparations are under way as the welcome ceremony for Mr Trump by Mr Xi at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing draws near.Children holding Chinese and US flags are seen rehearsing alongside honour guards from the Chinese People\\u2019s Liberation Army.PHOTOS: REUTERS\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"What\\u2019s on the agenda for Trump and Xi? Iran war, tariffs and more\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T09:45:14+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T09:45:14+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"The much-anticipated meeting between Mr Trump and Mr Xi is set to begin soon.It will offer the leaders of the world\\u2019s two largest economies a chance to reset personal ties and look for common ground on trade, technology and a range of other contentious topics.Here are the issues that are likely to dominate the agenda:\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"US and China trade chiefs laid the groundwork at last-minute talks ahead of Trump-Xi summit\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T09:27:45+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T09:27:45+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"The last-minute talks in South Korea between delegations led by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and China\\u2019s Vice-Premier He Lifeng appeared to have ended on a positive note on Wednesday, hours before Mr Trump landed in Beijing.Chinese state media said the two delegations held \\u201ccandid, in-depth and constructive\\u201d exchanges on trade and economic issues of mutual concern, as well as on further expanding practical cooperation.There were no immediate details about the specific issues discussed.The American and Chinese trade teams last met face to face in Paris in March, shortly after the US and Israel launched military strikes against Iran on Feb 28.READ MORE HERE\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Ng Huiwen\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"No longer \\u2018state visit-plus\\u2019: Trump\\u2019s visit to China is not as it was 9 years ago\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T09:00:30+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T09:00:30+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Mr Trump arrives in Beijing under a vastly different backdrop from his lavish \\u201cstate visit-plus\\u201d nearly a decade ago, when Mr Xi escorted him on an atmospheric evening tour of the Forbidden City palace complex.Mr Trump\\u2019s previous visit in November 2017 saw the two leaders and their wives walking through the Forbidden City\\u2019s floodlit courtyards under the night sky, before dinner and a traditional opera performance within.That carefully choreographed night, however, took place at an early and very different moment in the relationship. Within months, the Trump administration launched the trade war that has come to define the past decade of the world\\u2019s most important bilateral relationship.While any head of state visiting Beijing will be afforded decorum and protocol, there will no doubt be comparisons between both the substance and tone of the two visits.READ MORE HEREPHOTO: REUTERS\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"China warned on US arms sales to Taiwan ahead of summit\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T08:30:08+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T08:33:12+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"China had reiterated its strong opposition to US arms sales to Taiwan on Wednesday, calling on Washington to honour its commitments before Mr Trump arrived in Beijing.Mr Trump had earlier said he was ready to discuss the arms sales during his visit. He had also suggested his personal chemistry with his counterpart, Mr Xi, would prevent a Chinese invasion of the island.Ms Zhang Han, a spokesperson for China\\u2019s Taiwan Affairs Office, had said Taiwan is an internal issue and a matter for the Chinese people.\\u201cWe firmly oppose the United States engaging in any form of military ties with China\\u2019s Taiwan region, and firmly oppose the United States selling weapons to China\\u2019s Taiwan region. This position is consistent and unequivocal,\\u201d she said in Beijing.The US officially takes no position on Taiwan\\u2019s sovereignty under Washington\\u2019s \\u201cOne China\\u201d policy, but acknowledges, without accepting, Beijing\\u2019s position that the island is China\\u2019s.READ MORE HEREPHOTO: REUTERS\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"A packed schedule\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T07:05:22+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T08:10:40+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Mr Trump arrived in Beijing slightly before 8pm last night, marking the first state visit by a US leader to China since his own trip in 2017.Air Force One \\u2013 the US president\\u2019s official plane \\u2013 touched down at Beijing Capital International Airport, where he was greeted by Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng, a military honour guard, and hundreds of flag-waving children.Mr Trump will have a busy day ahead. He is set to participate in a welcome ceremony and bilateral meeting with Mr Xi at around 10am at the Great Hall of the People.He is then slated to visit the Temple of Heaven at noon and attend a state banquet with Mr Xi at 6pm.The bilateral talks are scheduled to continue tomorrow morning. View this post on Instagram \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"In pictures: Trump lands in China\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T08:00:06+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T08:00:06+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Mr Trump\\u2019s arrival in Beijing on Wednesday stirred excitement in the Chinese capital, with the highway route leaving the airport decorated with American and Chinese flags.By 7.45pm, a small crowd of more than 100 people had gathered at a carpark near Beijing Capital Airport, hoping for a glimpse of Air Force One.Close to the Four Seasons hotel in downtown Beijing, a large crowd of several hundred people had also gathered, jostling for a glimpse of the US President\\u2019s motorcade. Security was extremely tight as guards started to clear the roads and pavements of cars and pedestrians from about 7.30pm.PHOTOS: AFP, REUTERS, EPA\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Tech CEOs join Trump on mission to \\u2018open up\\u2019 China\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T07:28:20+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T07:46:18+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Chief executive officers, drawn mainly from US companies seeking to resolve business issues with China, are accompanying Mr Trump on his summit meeting in Beijing.\\u201cI will be asking President Xi, a Leader of extraordinary distinction, to \\u2018open up\\u2019 China so that these brilliant people can work their magic,\\u201d Mr Trump had said in a post on Truth Social, referring to the delegation.The roster of executives includes: Tesla\\u2019s Elon Musk, Apple\\u2019s Tim Cook, GE Aerospace\\u2019s Larry Culp, Boeing\\u2019s Kelly Ortberg, Meta\\u2019s Dina Powell McCormick, Micron\\u2019s Sanjay Mehrotra, Mastercard\\u2019s Michael Miebach, Qualcomm\\u2019s Cristiano Amon and Visa\\u2019s Ryan McInerney.In an unexpected twist, Nvidia\\u2019s Jensen Huang had boarded the presidential plane as a last-minute addition, thrusting artificial intelligence and technology into the spotlight.The \\u200bUS and China are expected to agree to forums to facilitate mutual trade and investment, while China is expected to announce purchases related to Boeing airplanes, \\u200bAmerican agriculture and energy, Reuters reported earlier on Monday.READ MORE HERE PHOTO: KENNY HOLSTON\\/NYTIMES\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Ng Huiwen\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Good morning\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-14T07:00:54+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-14T07:00:54+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"US President Donald Trump is in Beijing, where he is poised to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping later today.It will be a critical moment for US-China relations amid tensions over Taiwan, trade tariffs, and the war in the Middle East.The world will be watching this highly anticipated summit between the two leaders closely.Stay tuned as we bring you the latest updates.PHOTO: REUTERS\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}}]}","keywords","Donald Trump, XI Jinping, President Trump, President Xi, Trump Xi summit, meeting, US-China ties, United States, China, Beijing","robots","index, follow, max-image-preview:large, max-snippet:-1, max-video-preview:-1","image","https://static1.straitstimes.com.sg/s3fs-public/articles/2026/05/14/trump-xi-beijing-china2026.jpg?VersionId=SkyzwU02KtqUP.Fwj8wsFaZnMasOvd1l","gaData",{"_83":84,"_85":21,"_86":21,"_20":87,"_88":89,"_90":91,"_92":93},"level2","23","chapter1","chapter2","Live:_Xi_and_Trump_begin_high-stakes_meeting_in_Beijing","title_ga","Live: Xi and Trump begin high-stakes meeting in Beijing","pagination","1","contenttype","live blog","additionalVariants","dependentPaths",[],"actionData","errors"]