U.S.-China Summit: It’s Not Enough for Trump, Xi to Put on Show of Reconciliation

Editorial

16:47 JST, May 15, 2026

With no end in sight to the situation in Iran and conflict continuing in other parts of the world, the roles and responsibilities that the United States and China must fulfill as two major powers have become heavier than ever.

It is not enough for the leaders of the two countries to simply meet and focus on making a show of their cooperation. They must present effective measures to stabilize the international situation and the global economy.

U.S. President Donald Trump made his first visit to China in his second term as president and held talks with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.

Confrontation between their countries is intensifying over issues such as military affairs, diplomacy and advanced technology. During their first day of talks, Xi said, “The two countries should be partners rather than rivals.” Trump responded, saying, “The relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before.”

The United States had to postpone Trump’s visit to China from March to May due to its attacks on Iran. While having been preoccupied with the situation in the Middle East, Trump appears to be motivated to showcase achievements ahead of the midterm elections this autumn by prioritizing immediate deals with China over trade and other issues.

China, meanwhile, is concerned about not just the slowdown of its economy, but also the negative impact of the global energy crisis triggered by the war in Iran. China apparently wants to prevent competition with the United States from intensifying for as long as possible.

During their summit, Trump and Xi appeared to make every effort to foster reconciliation, driven by their respective interests. However, structural conflicts persist between their countries, because some pending issues were not addressed during their talks.

Regarding Taiwan in particular, the United States and China showed stark differences in their positions.

During the talks, Xi asserted that Taiwan is “the most important issue in China-U.S. relations.” He also warned the United States, saying that if it is not handled properly, “the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy.”

With these statements, it is believed Xi was trying to urge the United States to reconsider its relationship with Taiwan, bearing in mind the fact that the Trump administration approved $11.1 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, one of the largest U.S. weapons packages for the island.

Trump apparently did not respond to this request. Regarding arms sales to Taiwan, past U.S. administrations indicated their stance of not discussing them with China in advance. If Trump were to change this stance, it would be seen as a concession to China.

Regarding the war in Iran, Trump and Xi reportedly agreed on the need to end the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and normalize global energy supplies.

While Trump and Xi may be in verbal agreement, China is purchasing crude oil to prop up Iran’s economy. Meanwhile, the United States itself has been further escalating tensions in the strait by imposing a blockade of Iranian ports.

The United States should end its war against Iran and aim for a permanent ceasefire through negotiations. China, as a friendly country to Iran, also must exercise its influence on the nation.

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 15, 2026)