Beijing is abuzz with anticipation and tension as US President Donald Trump touches down in the Chinese capital for a summit that many analysts are calling a potential turning point in the fraught relationship between the world’s two largest economies. The visit, taking place from May 13 to May 15, 2026, marks Trump’s first trip to China since 2017 and comes at a time when the balance of power between Washington and Beijing is being keenly scrutinized by observers across the globe.
Security in Beijing has been ratcheted up to an extraordinary degree. According to South China Morning Post, privacy screens, police dogs, and additional security screening equipment have been installed at the Four Seasons Hotel Beijing, where Trump is expected to stay. The hotel, a five-star property just 700 meters from the US embassy, has become the epicenter of American preparations, with members of the US delegation also booked at the nearby Kempinski Hotel Beijing Yansha Centre. The meticulous arrangements reflect not only the importance of the visit, but also the sensitivity of the issues at stake.
The guest list for Air Force One reads like a who’s who of American business. Trump is joined by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Apple’s Tim Cook, BlackRock’s Larry Fink, Blackstone’s Stephen Schwarzman, Boeing’s Kelly Ortberg, Cargill’s Brian Sikes, Citigroup’s Jane Fraser, GE Aerospace’s Larry Culp, Goldman Sachs’ David Solomon, Micron’s Sanjay Mehrotra, Qualcomm’s Cristiano Amon, and, in a last-minute addition, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who boarded the plane during a refueling stop in Anchorage, Alaska. Fox News host Sean Hannity is also along for the ride. Trump himself confirmed Huang’s presence in a Truth Social post, underscoring the high-powered nature of his entourage.
The summit’s agenda is as packed as it is contentious. Trade, tariffs, Taiwan, the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran, artificial intelligence, and the global struggle over rare earth elements are all on the table. Trump has made no secret of his ambition: “I will make my very first request to President Xi to open up China to American business. I have never seen or heard of any idea that would be more beneficial to our incredible Countries,” he wrote on social media. The stakes are high, not just for the two leaders, but for the world economy and geopolitical stability.
This visit was originally scheduled for April but was postponed due to the outbreak of war between the US, Israel, and Iran—a conflict that has had ripple effects far beyond the Middle East. As France 24 reports, the war has depleted US weapons stockpiles and driven up global energy prices, leaving Washington in a less commanding position than in years past. “The recent conflicts have significantly depleted weapons stockpiles, which need to be replenished,” said Patrick Nicchiarelli, a China specialist at the International Team for the Study of Security (ITSS) Verona. “Unfortunately for Washington, modern weaponry also requires rare earth elements.”
China’s control over these critical minerals—essential for everything from smartphones to advanced military hardware—has emerged as one of its most potent forms of leverage. When Trump attempted to reignite the trade war by imposing 145 percent tariffs on Chinese imports, Beijing swiftly retaliated by restricting exports of rare earths, forcing the US to scale back tariffs to 30 percent. “This Chinese stranglehold on the industry gives them leverage over everyone, including Washington,” Nicchiarelli told France 24. The episode has cast a long shadow over the summit, as the US scrambles to diversify its supply chains and reduce its dependence on Chinese resources.
The European press has not minced words about the dynamics at play. According to Libération, Trump arrives in Beijing “embroiled in a war against Iran that has sent energy prices soaring and rebuked by the Supreme Court over tariffs, beginning the summit with weaker cards than it appears.” The French daily contrasts this with Xi Jinping’s position of strength, highlighting his “posture of a responsible power and control over rare earth metals,” and his central role in the current geopolitical chessboard.
Indeed, Xi seems to be capitalizing on the moment. As Libération notes, China has cultivated an image of a solid international partner that respects international law—a stance that is as much about strategic calculation as it is about optics, given that more than half of China’s oil imports pass through the vulnerable Strait of Hormuz. In its own words, China’s foreign ministry has promised to bring “more stability and certainty” to international relations, a phrase that many see as an implicit critique of Trump’s more unpredictable approach.
Taiwan, always a flashpoint in US-China relations, is expected to dominate the confidential discussions. Der Spiegel frames the question bluntly: Will Xi succeed in extracting concessions from Trump on the island? The German weekly points out that Trump, preoccupied with the Iran war, has signaled that some US arms deliveries to Taiwan could hinge on the outcome of these talks, marking a return to the longstanding American ambiguity on whether it would defend Taiwan militarily. Xi, by contrast, is seen as pursuing reunification with Taiwan as “an almost quasi-religious goal,” leveraging both military pressure—through near-daily air force sorties—and political influence by courting Taiwan’s opposition.
The mood in Taiwan itself is shifting. A January 2026 survey cited by Der Spiegel found that more than 60 percent of Taiwanese now distrust the United States, wary of being caught in the crossfire of great power politics. Taipei fears that Trump, seduced by the grandeur of the Chinese reception, might reduce American support for the island. The outcome of the summit could well determine the future trajectory of cross-strait relations.
Despite the challenges, Trump is not without leverage. As Zeno Leoni, a US-China relations specialist at King’s College London, told France 24, “The United States still has unmatched military reach and enormous financial leverage, so in raw power terms it remains stronger.” Trump’s strategy is to push for expanded access to Chinese markets for American businesses, a message underscored by the presence of top US CEOs. “Even though there’s been all kinds of discussion about the reform of the Chinese economy, China still needs the American market—at least in the short term,” said Marc Lanteigne of the Arctic University of Norway.
But the clock is ticking. With the November US midterm elections fast approaching and domestic pressures mounting from a costly war and rising living costs, Trump is eager to return home with tangible results—ideally, new trade agreements or diplomatic wins he can tout to voters. For Xi, the goal is to cement China’s status as a global leader and responsible power, all while pressing its advantage on critical issues like Taiwan and rare earths.
The world is watching closely to see which leader will play their hand more skillfully. The next two days in Beijing could well set the tone for US-China relations for years to come.