Donald Trump left China on Friday after a much-hyped summit with President Xi Jinping that was rich in pageantry but offered little tangible progress on key issues such as Iran, Taiwan, and the AI arms race. The US president hailed 'fantastic trade deals' but provided no details, while critics described the meeting as more performative than substantive.
On Iran, Trump said the two leaders discussed the conflict and agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open. However, he hinted at possible sanctions relief for Chinese companies buying Iranian oil, telling Fox News that Xi assured him China would not supply military equipment to Iran but wanted to continue oil purchases. China's foreign ministry called for a ceasefire and the reopening of the strait 'as soon as possible'.
Taiwan was a central topic, with Xi warning that mishandling the issue could lead to 'clashes and even conflicts'. Trump insisted US policy on Taiwan had not changed but admitted he might not approve a major arms sale to the self-governing island. Taiwan's foreign ministry noted Trump's remarks, stressing that arms sales are a security commitment under the Taiwan Relations Act.
The summit, attended by tech executives including Elon Musk and Tim Cook, failed to produce breakthroughs on the AI arms race or other contentious issues. Trump departed with a post on Truth Social praising China's ballroom, referencing his campaign to build one at the White House, but returns to face ongoing political challenges from the war in Iran.
