Trump travels to Beijing for summit with Xi Jinping focused on trade, Iran, Russia, and Taiwan arms sales

President Trump departed for Beijing on Monday for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping that U.S. officials previewed as covering trade, Iran, Russia, Taiwan, and emerging technology. The White House described the visit as the first of potentially four meetings between the two leaders this year, depending on how their discussions proceed.

A senior administration official told reporters on Sunday that Trump has spoken "multiple times" with Xi about revenue China provides to Iran and Russia, as well as what the official described as dual-use goods, components, parts, and the potential for weapons exports. The official said new U.S. sanctions announced in recent days would be part of those conversations. Treasury Secretary Bessent, in a Fox News interview on May 4, said China has been purchasing roughly 90 percent of Iran's energy exports. Chinese Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said China "always acts prudently and responsibly" on military exports and follows strict export controls, calling the U.S. characterizations a "groundless smear." On Sunday, China's Commerce Ministry issued a directive invoking a 2021 blocking statute that instructs Chinese firms to disregard U.S. sanctions targeting Iranian oil, a step Fox News described as a direct challenge to U.S. enforcement efforts.

Taiwan is also expected to feature prominently. China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said last week that "the Taiwan question is at the very core of China's core interests." The New York Times reported that Xi is likely to press Trump to slow or reduce U.S. arms sales to the island. The Trump administration approved $11 billion in arms sales to Taiwan late last year; a second package worth approximately $14 billion is awaiting final approval. Taiwanese lawmakers approved a $25 billion special budget last week to cover both packages, and a bipartisan group of eight U.S. senators sent a letter urging Trump to proceed with the pending sale. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who will accompany Trump to Beijing, said last week that U.S. policy toward Taiwan has not changed.