President Donald Trump opened high-stakes talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday, with trade, Taiwan, tariffs and the Iran conflict dominating the agenda.
According to official broadcast footage, Trump said U.S.-China ties could become “better than ever before.” Xi responded by raising concerns about the so-called “Thucydides Trap,” a theory suggesting conflict often emerges between rising and dominant global powers.
In simple terms, the Thucydides Trap is about structural tension https://t.co/u28iJelm4a
— Bloomberg (@business) May 14, 2026
Chinese state media reported that Xi warned Taiwan remains the most sensitive issue in bilateral relations and said mishandling it could push ties into dangerous territory.
A White House official said both leaders agreed the Strait of Hormuz should remain open to protect global energy flows. The talks also reportedly covered larger Chinese purchases of American oil and agricultural products.
The summit marks the first China visit by a sitting U.S. president in nearly a decade and comes amid ongoing trade disputes, technology restrictions and growing geopolitical competition.
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