US-China Summit to Focus on Taiwan, Tariffs, Iran; Breakthroughs Unlikely
The highly anticipated "Trump-Xi summit" on May 14 will address Taiwan, the US-China trade war, and the US-Iran conflict. However, major breakthroughs on long-standing issues are widely not expected.
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- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 13:19
- 🔍 Collected: May 12, 2026 at 13:31 (12 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 14, 2026 at 06:51 (41h 19m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Beijing, May 11, comprehensive foreign report) The globally anticipated "Trump-Xi summit" will take place on May 14, with the Taiwan issue, the US-China trade war, and a ceasefire in the US-Iran conflict being key focal points. However, it is widely expected that this Trump-Xi summit will struggle to achieve significant breakthroughs on long-standing US-China issues.
According to an Associated Press report, despite Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stating in a phone call two weeks ago that relations between the two countries have been largely stable in recent months and that they intend to maintain the status quo, Taiwan remains the "biggest risk" in US-China relations.
The Taiwan issue has persisted since the 1949 Chinese Civil War and is not expected to achieve substantial breakthroughs at this Trump-Xi summit.
The US is legally obligated to ensure Taiwan's self-defense capabilities but officially maintains a "strategic ambiguity" stance. If China were to use force to take Taiwan, US military intervention remains uncertain. Furthermore, Trump recently revealed that he discussed arms sales to Taiwan with Chinese President Xi Jinping, raising doubts among some about the US commitment to supporting Taiwan.
Fudan University expert Zhao Minghao pointed out: "One possibility is that China and the US could adopt a 'mutual restraint' strategy, for example, by reducing US arms sales to Taiwan in exchange for mainland China reducing military exercises around Taiwan."
The US-China trade war began during Trump's first term, but tensions escalated further when Trump announced a 34% tariff increase on all Chinese goods on "Liberation Day" last April. China retaliated with countermeasures such as reciprocal tariffs and restrictions on rare earth exports, with US tariffs on China once reaching as high as 145%.
Subsequently, both sides realized that excessively high tariffs were unsustainable, leading them to call for a trade truce and suspend various punitive economic measures. Trump and Xi met in South Korea last October, extending the trade truce by one year. China pledged to purchase soybeans from US farmers, and the US reduced tariffs by more than half.
However, the trade truce has not resolved any underlying issues. Now, China has imposed new export licensing requirements for rare earths, which can be tightened at any time, and in April, it promulgated new regulations specifically designed to counter overseas restrictions targeting Chinese companies.
Although there are suggestions that both sides might announce an extension of the trade truce, some also point out that the US and China continue to take targeted actions. The White House stated yesterday that the US and China plan to discuss establishing a new "Trade Committee" to maintain communication between the two countries on economic issues.
The world is currently awaiting the end of the US-Iran conflict, which is likely to be a discussion topic at the Trump-Xi summit.
China has publicly criticized the US and Israel for waging war, and given the close political and economic ties between China and Iran, some believe that China could become an informal mediator influencing Tehran. However, Beijing is currently maintaining a cautious attitude and is unwilling to get deeply involved.
Just a few days ago, however, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called on China to pressure Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz, accusing Beijing of "financing terrorism" by purchasing Iranian oil. (Compiler: Chang Ming-hsuan) 1150512
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(Central News Agency, Beijing, May 11, comprehensive foreign report) The globally anticipated "Trump-Xi summit" will take place on May 14, with the Taiwan issue, the US-China trade war, and a ceasefire in the US-Iran conflict being key focal points. However, it is widely expected that this Trump-Xi summit will struggle to achieve significant breakthroughs on long-standing US-China issues.
According to an Associated Press report, despite Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stating in a phone call two weeks ago that relations between the two countries have been largely stable in recent months and that they intend to maintain the status quo, Taiwan remains the "biggest risk" in US-China relations.
The Taiwan issue has persisted since the 1949 Chinese Civil War and is not expected to achieve substantial breakthroughs at this Trump-Xi summit.
The US is legally obligated to ensure Taiwan's self-defense capabilities but officially maintains a "strategic ambiguity" stance. If China were to use force to take Taiwan, US military intervention remains uncertain. Furthermore, Trump recently revealed that he discussed arms sales to Taiwan with Chinese President Xi Jinping, raising doubts among some about the US commitment to supporting Taiwan.
Fudan University expert Zhao Minghao pointed out: "One possibility is that China and the US could adopt a 'mutual restraint' strategy, for example, by reducing US arms sales to Taiwan in exchange for mainland China reducing military exercises around Taiwan."
The US-China trade war began during Trump's first term, but tensions escalated further when Trump announced a 34% tariff increase on all Chinese goods on "Liberation Day" last April. China retaliated with countermeasures such as reciprocal tariffs and restrictions on rare earth exports, with US tariffs on China once reaching as high as 145%.
Subsequently, both sides realized that excessively high tariffs were unsustainable, leading them to call for a trade truce and suspend various punitive economic measures. Trump and Xi met in South Korea last October, extending the trade truce by one year. China pledged to purchase soybeans from US farmers, and the US reduced tariffs by more than half.
However, the trade truce has not resolved any underlying issues. Now, China has imposed new export licensing requirements for rare earths, which can be tightened at any time, and in April, it promulgated new regulations specifically designed to counter overseas restrictions targeting Chinese companies.
Although there are suggestions that both sides might announce an extension of the trade truce, some also point out that the US and China continue to take targeted actions. The White House stated yesterday that the US and China plan to discuss establishing a new "Trade Committee" to maintain communication between the two countries on economic issues.
The world is currently awaiting the end of the US-Iran conflict, which is likely to be a discussion topic at the Trump-Xi summit.
China has publicly criticized the US and Israel for waging war, and given the close political and economic ties between China and Iran, some believe that China could become an informal mediator influencing Tehran. However, Beijing is currently maintaining a cautious attitude and is unwilling to get deeply involved.
Just a few days ago, however, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called on China to pressure Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz, accusing Beijing of "financing terrorism" by purchasing Iranian oil. (Compiler: Chang Ming-hsuan) 1150512
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you provide is a force for protecting press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-Hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.