Donald Trump and Xi Jinping have held talks throughout a high-stakes state go to to China – however behind the scenes, tensions have reportedly erupted
BEIJING, CHINA – MAY 14: (—-EDITORIAL USE ONLY – MANDATORY CREDIT – ‘WHITE HOUSE VIA X / HANDOUT’ – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS—-) US President Donald Trump meets with Chinese language President Xi Jinping in Beijing, China on Might 14, 2026. (Photograph by White Home by way of X/Anadolu by way of Getty Photographs) (Picture: Anadolu by way of Getty Photographs)
Behind the scenes of the high-stakes China summit, tensions are reportedly boiling over because the world watches the US and Chinese language leaders intently.
President Trump and Xi Jinping have held talks overlaying contentious points together with the Iran conflict, commerce, know-how and Taiwan.
We use your sign-up to offer content material in methods you have consented to and to enhance our understanding of you. This will likely embrace adverts from us and third events primarily based on our understanding. You may unsubscribe at any time. Learn our Privateness Coverage
Trump declared in a toast on the state banquet that the US and China share a “deep sense of mutual respect”, but off-stage relations between the 2 nations seem to have continued deteriorating because the state go to presses on.
With a reported ‘standoff’ and a US staffer trampled by a swarm of Chinese language journalists backstage, the journey has been labelled a “s***present”.
The primary incident unfolded on Thursday morning when a bunch of Chinese language press reportedly compelled their manner into Trump’s assembly with President Xi, knocking over and standing on a White Home staffer.
Because the aide was floored, American officers protested on the behaviour, although luckily the staffer escaped with out critical damage.
Members of Trump’s Secret Service additionally reportedly clashed with Chinese language officers after being barred from coming into a historic Beijing temple, owing to one of many brokers carrying a firearm.
A journalist described the “intense” standoff as happening throughout Trump’s first full day of the state go to, inflicting important delays.
In keeping with the White Home press pool, the agent accompanying reporters was stopped by Chinese language safety and denied entry to the temple’s compound due to his firearm.
BEIJING, CHINA – MAY 14: The motorcade of U.S. President Donald Trump leaves the 4 Seasons Lodge on the best way to the Nice Corridor of the Individuals on Might 14, 2026 in Beijing, China. Trump arrived in Beijing on Might thirteenth for a two day summit with Chinese language President Xi Jinping. It’s the first go to to China by a U.S. President since Trump’s final go to in 2017. (Photograph by Kevin Frayer/Getty Photographs) (Picture: Getty Photographs)
A dispute between US and Chinese language officers resulted in a delay to the press corps coming into the temple advanced, with journalists briefly detained whereas representatives from each nations engaged in a heated argument over whether or not they may proceed.
Whereas held within the ready space, one American reporter cried out: “Now we have to go!”
Chinese language officers reportedly gave chase because the US delegation sprinted throughout the sq. to succeed in Trump’s motorcade.
These behind-the-scenes tensions have to date stood in stark distinction to the largely cordial exchanges between the 2 leaders, with the confrontation unfolding at the same time as Xi and Trump took a leisurely tour of the historic temple.
Regardless of the broadly amicable ambiance, Xi issued a stark warning over the simmering tensions between the 2 nations, cautioning that they may “come into battle” throughout a two-hour summit earlier on Thursday.
The Chinese language chief stated: “If dealt with correctly, bilateral relations can stay usually steady.
“If dealt with poorly, the 2 nations will conflict and even come into battle, pushing the complete China-US relationship right into a extremely harmful state of affairs.”
Leave a Reply