Meeting Nearly Cancelled Due to Iran War, Trump to Meet Xi Jinping in China

US President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on 14-15 May 2026 during a visit to Beijing. The agenda was delayed from its initial schedule due to the escalation of the Iran war, which has captured Washington’s attention. Trump confirmed the schedule change via a post on Truth Social on Wednesday. He also mentioned that he will host Xi in a reciprocal visit to Washington later this year. “Our representatives are finalising preparations for this historic visit. I look forward to spending time with President Xi in what I am sure will be a monumental event,” Trump wrote, as quoted by The Guardian on Thursday (26/3/2026). The Chinese Embassy has not yet provided details regarding the agenda. The Beijing government generally announces Xi’s travel schedules only a few days before the visit takes place. This visit will be the first by a US president to China in the last eight years, since Trump’s trip in 2017. The upcoming meeting will also be a follow-up face-to-face encounter after they met in South Korea last October and agreed to a ceasefire in the trade conflict. However, this diplomatic plan is not without various global dynamics. In addition to the Iran war, US domestic policies are also influencing Washington’s negotiating position. Last February, the US Supreme Court limited the president’s authority in setting tariffs, which has been an important instrument for Trump in dealing with major trading partners, including China. On the other hand, the joint US-Israel military operations against Iran since 28 February have added tension with Beijing. China is one of Iran’s major oil buyers and has strategic interests in the region. During the two-day visit to Beijing, the two leaders are expected to discuss trade cooperation, including the agriculture and aircraft components sectors. Nevertheless, sensitive issues such as Taiwan are predicted to remain the main stumbling block. During his second term, Trump is known to have increased arms sales to Taiwan, a move that has provoked strong protests from China, which claims the territory. It is unclear whether the Iran conflict will subside before the meeting takes place. Trump previously requested support from major oil-consuming countries, including China, to address the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran. However, that request has not yet received a direct response from Beijing.