Xi-Trump aftermath, space tactics, AI policy change: 7 US-China relations reads
From Xi-Trump meeting analysis to soybean worries and tech plans, here are highlights from our correspondents in the second half of May 2026
1. Trump leaves China after much pomp and pageantry, but little to show for it
As US President Donald Trump landed back in Washington after his two-day summit in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping, a quick US assessment on one of the most consequential diplomatic visits of Trump’s presidency was: impressive optics, trademark flawless Chinese hosting, but disappointing concrete achievements, according to analysts, industry trade groups and former US officials.
2. Taiwan casts long shadow over Trump’s summit with Xi
In the aftermath of the Trump-Xi summit, subtle differences emerged in how the two sides characterised Taiwan, which Beijing defines as the most important issue in the bilateral relationship and which has emerged as the first test of Beijing and Washington’s new “strategic stability” formula, according to analysts.
3. China’s Wang Yi tells UN multilateralism must be protected in swipe at US
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi took a swipe at the United States at a press conference at the United Nations in May as he touted the need to safeguard multilateralism and the UN Charter in times of great instability.