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Trump’s 2026 trip to China
Ahead of the first trip by a US president to China in nearly a decade, the South China Morning Post reports on the preparations for President Trump’s visit and examines the issues at stake in his landmark summit with President Xi.
Updated: 15 May, 2026
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[1]
China mulls US manufacturing fund ahead of Xi-Trump summit, business leader says
Leaders to secure ‘very positive’ outcomes but no ‘grand bargain’ during talks in Beijing, AmCham China chair predicts.
13 Feb, 2026
[2]
Exclusive | China confirms talks with US about Trump visit as trade truce stays on the cards
US president and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping may roll back tariffs for up to a year as officials seek short-term economic wins.
12 Feb, 2026
[3]
Xi-Trump talk plans rattled by chaotic US team: ‘the worst I’ve ever seen’
Analysts warn thin US coordination and rushed timelines risk weak deliverables and surprises ahead of high-stakes Beijing meeting.
26 Feb, 2026
[4]
Exclusive | China scours for Trump bargaining chips ahead of Beijing summit with Xi: sources
Government departments are tasked with researching and assessing likely demands by the US leader as well as formulating possible concessions.
27 Feb, 2026
[5]
Will Iran attack derail Trump’s high-stakes China visit to meet Xi Jinping?
China has condemned killing of Iranian leader as a grave violation of sovereignty and called US incitement of regime change ‘unacceptable’.
02 Mar, 2026
[6]
Exclusive | US, China discuss investment revival ahead of Trump’s trip: sources
Both sides exploring structured joint ventures and licensing deals, with Beijing seeking protection and Washington eyeing better market access amid declining capital flows.
03 Mar, 2026
[7]
Exclusive | Trump’s China visit confined to Beijing due to schedule, security needs: sources
‘Given the situation [in the Middle East], the visit’s security arrangements must be extremely careful’.
09 Mar, 2026
[8]
Exclusive | Could China’s rare earth supplies dictate how long US strikes on Iran go on?
The American military’s dependence on Chinese sources gives Beijing leverage in the lead-up to Trump’s trip, sources say.
10 Mar, 2026
[9]
Exclusive | Sanctioned Rubio to visit China with Trump despite earlier missed opportunities
The formerly hawkish US secretary of state has been sanctioned by Beijing and sources say he has previously appeared reluctant to visit.
13 Mar, 2026
[10]
Why Trump’s China trip delay could open the door for ‘more substantive’ results
Analysts say postponement of US president’s trip to Beijing is a strategic opportunity and unlikely to derail momentum in stabilising ties.
17 Mar, 2026
[11]
Chaos over Donald Trump’s China trip likely to further test Beijing’s patience
The US leader’s call for a delay as he focuses on the Iran war follows reports of growing frustration at the White House’s erratic behaviour.
18 Mar, 2026
[12]
Exclusive | Trump ally Steve Daines will be first US senator to visit Hong Kong since 2019
As Beijing and Washington negotiate new schedule for Trump’s visit, Daines is expected to meet US business leaders in Hong Kong on March 30.
20 Mar, 2026
[13]
Exclusive | What are the real reasons behind the change of date for Trump’s China visit?
After confirmation that the high-stakes Xi-Trump summit will be delayed, analysts find a complex story beneath the official surface.
21 Mar, 2026
[14]
Exclusive | What does it mean for China if Trump and Putin visit back to back?
Expected trips in close succession highlight Beijing’s strategic effort to manage relations with the two in turbulent times, analysts say.
27 Mar, 2026
[15]
Exclusive | Trump-Xi summit shaped by uncertainty, not strategy: experts
War distractions and limited goals risk turning Beijing talks into optics over substance, as expectations shrink and planning falters.
15 Apr, 2026
[16]
Exclusive | Trump ally to visit China as US turns up pressure before May summit
Republican senator to lead bipartisan delegation to China next week; visit will begin on May 1, with stops planned in Shanghai and Beijing.
24 Apr, 2026
[17]
Will warming Arctic trigger further chill in US-China relations?
The prospect of opening up new sea lanes presents both challenges and opportunities for the rival powers, analysts say.
07 May, 2026
[18]
Has ‘the Beast’ arrived in Beijing? Trump’s motorcade SUVs spotted before visit
Heavily armoured US Secret Service vehicles spotted in China’s capital herald the year’s most significant diplomatic event.
07 May, 2026
[19]
China tells close Trump ally its wish list ahead of US leader’s Beijing trip
Premier Li Qiang and top diplomat Wang Yi call for stability in China-US ties during meetings with Senator Steve Daines.
07 May, 2026
[20]
Why US commercial stakes are ‘too high for Trump to ignore’ on China visit
After the US$37 billion, 300-plane deal from Trump’s last visit stalled, industry observers say the next one could be more flexible.
08 May, 2026
[21]
Latest US-China rivalry combines undersea dominance with a race to riches
Ahead of leaders’ summit in Beijing next week, experts point to a high-stakes competition that features military and mining technologies.
09 May, 2026
[22]
Xi-Trump summit: why the Iran war could become fresh point of friction
Both China and the US stand to gain from reopening the Strait of Hormuz, but they view the crisis through different lenses.
09 May, 2026
[23]
Exclusive | Buoyed by rare earths, China approaches Trump summit with fresh confidence
Sources say Beijing believes it has the ability to retaliate if Washington steps up the trade pressure.
10 May, 2026
[24]
Trump heads to China weakened as Xi gains leverage ahead of summit
Iran war, tariff setbacks and sliding US poll numbers reshape the balance going into next week’s high-stakes talks.
09 May, 2026
[25]
What to expect from this week’s Trump 2.0 visit to Beijing
Nearly a decade after his first-term visit, Trump returns to Beijing amid tensions over tariffs, Taiwan and tech rivalry.
11 May, 2026
[26]
Did US pressure before Xi-Trump summit force KMT hand on Taiwan’s defence budget?
Taiwan’s main opposition parties have cleared special defence budget bill after months of fractious debate and infighting.
11 May, 2026
[27]
Trump’s China visit watched in US for signs of stability – and tangible wins
American business and policy circles seek trade certainty, AI dialogue and signs rivalry can be managed despite wider tensions.
12 May, 2026
[28]
Trump taps Musk, Cook and other leaders for high-stakes China trade mission
Business delegation spanning tech, aviation and finance joins Beijing trip as trade, investment and supply chains top agenda.
12 May, 2026
[29]
China’s AI ascent leaves Trump a stark choice: escalate or relax chip controls?
Beijing and Washington are locked in an era-defining contest – and China’s rapid technological progress raises questions about limits of containment.
12 May, 2026
[30]
From ‘Taco’ to ‘Nacho’: Wall Street’s new buzzword as Trump preps for China trip
Traders’ catch-cry ‘Not a chance Hormuz opens’ replaces ‘Trump always chickens out’ as grim predictions swirl over gridlock, oil prices.
12 May, 2026
[31]
Why is Beijing on a stronger footing to discuss Taiwan with Trump this time?
The US president ‘needs China’s cooperation on multiple fronts’, Beijing-based analyst says.
12 May, 2026
[32]
Trump’s China visit opens door to ‘casual’ networking between business chiefs
Sources say Beijing’s exclusive Capital Club has been reserved for networking opportunities in a ‘less formal’ setting during state visit.
12 May, 2026
[33]
Exclusive | Melania, Rush Hour director returns to China with Trump’s delegation
Sources close to the filmmaker say he will be working on preparations for latest sequel of Rush Hour action-comedy franchise.
12 May, 2026
[34]
Exclusive | US first lady not travelling to China with Trump
Melania Trump skipping Beijing trip as US president heads to China alone for first state visit since 2017.
13 May, 2026
[35]
Trump visit makes Rubio first sanctioned US secretary of state to visit China
Rubio had initially appeared reluctant to visit, while Beijing did not spell out whether it would waive penalties imposed on him in 2020.
13 May, 2026
[36]
US defence secretary joins Trump on China trip in rare diplomatic move
Pete Hegseth becomes first Pentagon chief to accompany a US president to Beijing since Richard Nixon’s 1972 visit.
13 May, 2026
[37]
After nearly 9 years, Trump is landing in a totally changed China. Is he ready?
China has strengthened its position since the US president’s last visit, analysts said, predicting more equitable results from any potential agreement.
13 May, 2026
[38]
The message China wants to send by hosting Trump at Temple of Heaven
Beijing urges US president ‘to hold the line on peaceful coexistence’ as it prepares to host him at heritage site.
13 May, 2026
[39]
Marco Rubio dons ‘Maduro look’ as he heads to China, sparking internet frenzy
Chinese social media users react to Rubio’s tracksuit photo, calling it a ‘meaningless gimmick’ and raising questions about sanctions.
13 May, 2026
[40]
How US missile shortages could strengthen China’s hand during Trump visit
Washington’s depleted stocks and supply chain weaknesses could hand Beijing an important bargaining chip in this week’s talks.
13 May, 2026
[41]
‘Transactional’ but pivotal: how Xi-Trump talks could redefine fault lines
Chinese and US leaders are likely to focus on stability and achievable outcomes rather than breakthroughs when they meet in Beijing.
14 May, 2026
[42]
‘A flying White House’: Trump’s Air Force One fuels fascination in China
Hundreds of Beijing residents join professional photographers at vantage points near airport to capture arrival of the presidential plane.
14 May, 2026
[43]
After fanfare and banquet, day 1 of Trump’s China visit draws to a close
Presidents toast ‘most important bilateral relationship in the world’ at state dinner in Beijing.
14 May, 2026
[44]
The longest day – how the Xi-Trump summit reset China-US ties in 12 hours
The two leaders follow a morning of talks with a tour of the Temple of Heaven and a state banquet.
14 May, 2026
[45]
Boeing nears ‘large’ China orders as Trump and Xi forge new trade board: Bessent
Washington and Beijing will discuss the board to manage commercial ties, and there is a plan to ‘pregame’ investments to avoid national security blocks.
14 May, 2026
[46]
How did the US and China tell 2 different stories about the summit?
Beijing highlights the need for stable ties and peace, while Washington focuses on fentanyl and agricultural products.
14 May, 2026
[47]
The toast, the tastes and the tech selfie that crowned the US-China summit
The Chinese and US presidents attend a glittering state banquet that combined Chinese and Western dishes.
14 May, 2026
[48]
Xi and Trump set sights on stability for China and the US – with a note of caution
A day of positive messaging and personal rapport includes an invitation to visit the White House in September.
15 May, 2026
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[49]
The US-China trade war is entering a worrying new phase
The US and China are racing to roll out competing sanctions, rules and regulations, leaving firms trapped in a legal Catch-22.
15 May, 2026
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