Trump (left) and Xi (right) shake hands, while Trump appears to be whispering something into Xi's ear.
Trump (left) and Xi (right) shake hands, while Trump appears to be whispering something into Xi's ear.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands as they leave after talks at the Gimhae Air Base in Busan, South Korea, on Oct. 30, 2025. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

List of Trump-Xi Summit articles

Trump-Xi Summit

A woman is seen from behind with her neck craned to look at a large screen affixed to a four-story building with big windows. On the screen, Trump and Xi stand side by side and shake hands.
A woman is seen from behind with her neck craned to look at a large screen affixed to a four-story building with big windows. On the screen, Trump and Xi stand side by side and shake hands.

Trump’s China Pragmatism Is Welcome

Rivalry with Beijing is inevitable. Economic rupture would be disastrous.

Argument
Fareed Zakaria
Two men in dark suits stand side-by-side in a large, paved outdoor courtyard. The man on the left wears a bright red tie and looks off to the side with a serious expression. The man on the right wears a burgundy tie and has a slight smile. In the background, a large, multi-tiered circular traditional building with a blue roof and ornate details stands under a pale sky. A person in a dark uniform is visible in the far distance to the right.
Two men in dark suits stand side-by-side in a large, paved outdoor courtyard. The man on the left wears a bright red tie and looks off to the side with a serious expression. The man on the right wears a burgundy tie and has a slight smile. In the background, a large, multi-tiered circular traditional building with a blue roof and ornate details stands under a pale sky. A person in a dark uniform is visible in the far distance to the right.

The Trump-Xi Summit Was Remarkably Banal

A more confident China is happy to downplay presidential visits. This article has an audio recording

Analysis
James Palmer
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are seen walking past Chinese soldiers.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are seen walking past Chinese soldiers.

Talking (and Not Talking) Taiwan

A tale of two readouts.

Situation Report
John Haltiwanger, Rishi Iyengar
U.S. President Donald Trump gestures for Chinese President Xi Jinping to walk in front of him while visiting the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.
U.S. President Donald Trump gestures for Chinese President Xi Jinping to walk in front of him while visiting the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.

Day 1 of Beijing Summit Produces No Big Wins for Trump

From the Iran war to trade, the U.S. president failed to secure major concessions from his counterpart.

World Brief
Alexandra Sharp
Two men in dark suits standing outdoors. Donald Trump turns slightly toward Xi Jinping with his mouth open and his palms held upward in a gesturing motion. He wears a bright red striped tie. Xi has a slight smile, looking forward. He wears a dark burgundy tie. The background consists of blurred gray stone steps and a red carpet.
Two men in dark suits standing outdoors. Donald Trump turns slightly toward Xi Jinping with his mouth open and his palms held upward in a gesturing motion. He wears a bright red striped tie. Xi has a slight smile, looking forward. He wears a dark burgundy tie. The background consists of blurred gray stone steps and a red carpet.

Both Trump and Xi Overestimate Themselves

Elites in both China and the U.S. are too easily tempted to buy into their own myths. This article has an audio recording

Argument
Howard W. French
U.S. President Donald Trump is escorted by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng down a red carpet at Beijing Capital International Airport. A line of Chinese soldiers stand along the side.
U.S. President Donald Trump is escorted by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng down a red carpet at Beijing Capital International Airport. A line of Chinese soldiers stand along the side.

Trump Has One Major Focus While in China: Trade

The U.S. president is expected to downplay other issues to secure new trade deals.

World Brief
Alexandra Sharp
A person on a waterfront promenade holds a long, vibrant red dragon streamer with yellow characters painted on it. In the background, the sun sets behind a dense skyline of modern skyscrapers.
A person on a waterfront promenade holds a long, vibrant red dragon streamer with yellow characters painted on it. In the background, the sun sets behind a dense skyline of modern skyscrapers.

There’s No Need to Fear China’s Economy

Beijing can’t easily afford to escalate any economic struggle with Washington. This article has an audio recording

Review
Theodore Bunzel
Muslim devotees conduct a national flag ceremony at a mosque in Beijing on March 21.
Muslim devotees conduct a national flag ceremony at a mosque in Beijing on March 21.

Beijing’s Quest for Uniformity May Be Its Achilles’s Heel

Forced assimilation is costing China dearly. This article has an audio recording

Argument
Lobsang Sangay
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, attend a state dinner at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, attend a state dinner at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

What Happened to Trump the China Hawk?

The U.S. president heads to Beijing in detente and dealmaking mode.

Analysis
Rishi Iyengar
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the press at the White House. Behind him, an American flag, greenery, a construction crane, and the Washington monument can be seen in the distance.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the press at the White House. Behind him, an American flag, greenery, a construction crane, and the Washington monument can be seen in the distance.

What Trump and Xi Want From Their Summit

The leaders are expected to talk trade, Taiwan, and the Iran war.

China Brief
James Palmer
Two men walk on a sidewalk as they pass by a mostly-completed midrise building with shiny windows. Large posters and signage with writing in Chinese stand in front of the complex, describing the project. A man heading toward the building pulls a wheelbarrow behind him.
Two men walk on a sidewalk as they pass by a mostly-completed midrise building with shiny windows. Large posters and signage with writing in Chinese stand in front of the complex, describing the project. A man heading toward the building pulls a wheelbarrow behind him.

China’s Rare-Earth Card Looms Over Trump-Xi Summit

For all of the U.S. leader’s efforts, Washington remains deeply vulnerable. This article has an audio recording

Analysis
Christina Lu
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping react after posing for photos ahead of a bilateral meeting at Gimhae Air Base on October 30, 2025 in Busan, South Korea.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping react after posing for photos ahead of a bilateral meeting at Gimhae Air Base on October 30, 2025 in Busan, South Korea.

Chinese Hegemony Might Be Happening

There were always reasons to doubt it was a real possibility—until now.

Argument
Stephen M. Walt
A Vietnam Coast Guard ship (background) uses its water cannon as it simulates the extinguishing of a fire on a Philippine Coast Guard boat during a joint maritime exercise off Bataan, Philippines, in the disputed South China Sea on Aug. 9, 2024.
A Vietnam Coast Guard ship (background) uses its water cannon as it simulates the extinguishing of a fire on a Philippine Coast Guard boat during a joint maritime exercise off Bataan, Philippines, in the disputed South China Sea on Aug. 9, 2024.

Asia Isn’t as Peaceful as It Seems

Trouble is brewing as norms against war dissolve. This article has an audio recording

Analysis
Huong Le Thu
Trump and Xi are seen up close as they stand next to each other, both wearing dark suits and ties and smiling slightly. Trump is leaning closer to whisper something in Xi's ear.
Trump and Xi are seen up close as they stand next to each other, both wearing dark suits and ties and smiling slightly. Trump is leaning closer to whisper something in Xi's ear.

What Five Decades of Summits Reveal About U.S.-China Relations

The real test for the Trump-Xi meeting will come afterwards. This article has an audio recording

Analysis
Neil Thomas, Haolan Wang