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Xi’s US summit: Access real-time updates, geopolitical risk analysis, and exclusive reporting from an Asian perspective. Subscribe now with our limited-time offer to stay ahead.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump have met in Washington for an eagerly anticipated summit, during which the leaders discussed AI cooperation, their countries’ ties and more.
To help South China Morning Post readers unpack the events and figure out what it all means, SCMP’s Wendy Wu will answer questions from readers in this live question-and-answer session.
Wu joined the SCMP in 2015 to report on China. Her journalism career spans two decades, covering a range of topics including diplomacy and economy. Based in Beijing, she is China Editor of the SCMP, following her stint as Political Economy Editor.

The session will last for around 60-120 minutes.
Leave your question in a comment on this article for a chance to have it answered.


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AI war, Taiwan and translation: SCMP answers your questions from Xi-Trump summit

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Oval Office of the White House. Photo: AP

 The South China Morning Post’s China Editor Wendy Wu.

News

China

Diplomacy

China Editor Wendy Wu tackles reader queries in this live question-and-answer session, after the two leaders’ closely watched summit


China Editor Wendy Wu tackles reader queries in this live question-and-answer session, after the two leaders’ closely watched summit.


Xi Jinping

Donald Trump

US-China relations

US-China trade war

Donald Trump’s China policy

US-China tech war

Live

Welcome to a live question-and-answer session with SCMP’s China Editor Wendy Wu, who will answer your questions about Chinese President Xi Jinping’s ongoing trip to Washington.
We will spend between 60-120 minutes, starting at 2pm HKT, responding to reader queries, covering the summit with US President Donald Trump, the wars in Iran and Ukraine, AI and more.
It’s not too late to have your questions answered – add your query in a comment on this live article for a chance to have Wendy respond.
And if you like what you’re reading and would like to subscribe to the SCMP, click here for a limited-time offer.


Welcome

Wisley Lau asks: How will Xi and Trump define a successful outcome from the Washington summit?
Wendy Wu: Thanks Wisley. This is a great question.
The visit is still under way. Xi and Trump will hold second-day talks tomorrow. On day one, both sides talked on trade, AI and security, and the Chinese readout indicated the two sides reached “a new joint arrangement” on trade. We are waiting for details.
Earlier, a two-month trade war truce was announced. It seems short, but it lays the foundations for further talks to build positive momentum despite an increasingly heightened rivalry in areas such as AI. The two have also said they will support each other on the Apec summit and G20 later this year. While it has often been said in the past that the economy and trade serve as the ballast of the relationship, trade now appears to at least be the area where both sides can directly advance cooperation.
China is expected to release any consensus the two countries reach during the visit. A full list of outcomes or a fact sheet to wrap up the visit from the White House may come out this weekend.
The state of leader diplomacy does have significance in US-China relations, helping to avoid ties derailing amid the tense rivalry. The success of the leaders’ summit hinges not on headline deals but on a consensus or a commitment for long-term strategic stability. The unprecedented pageantry itself indicates the significance of containing risks in one of the world’s most complicated bilateral relationships.


Question 1: A successful outcome


Trump and Xi’s state dinner was heavy on historic symbolism. Find out more here.


From wine to ping-pong

Sel Burrows: What will Beijing do if Trump renews weapons sales to Taiwan?
Wendy Wu: Thanks, Sel. The Taiwan issue is of core interest to Beijing, and the red line and bottom line for the relationship between Beijing and Washington.
Beijing has reiterated that it will not compromise on the issue. Trump is also very clear about it. The SCMP reported earlier that the US was considering postponing the announcement of major arms sales to Taiwan until after November’s Apec summit in Shenzhen, or even extending the delay to the end of the year.
If Trump renews arms sales to Taiwan, it is very likely to damage the momentum built so far in maintaining the fragile stability in relations, and cut off newly resumed military-to-military communications, which had been nearly frozen after Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan.
Beijing might also leverage its control over key supply chains, such as rare earths and other critical minerals, or retaliate with ongoing tariffs and cut off economic discussions. Beijing might also ramp up blockade drills around Taiwan to show its resolution.
We’ve already seen a clear message from the official release of their day one talks. Xi stressed Beijing’s position on Taiwan, urging Trump to “carefully” consider the US’ position and oppose Taiwan independence.


Question 2: Taiwan

What will Xi and Peng be doing on the final day of the visit? Find out below.



1 more day

Kym Davey: Is it possible Xi and Trump will discuss the resolution of the wars in Iran and Ukraine? China has unprecedented influence over both conflicts from the sidelines.
Wendy Wu: Thanks, Kym. A straightforward answer is yes and no.
The two leaders did discuss the Middle East, the Ukraine war and the situation in the Korean peninsula during their day one talks, according to Chinese state media. The White House has not released a readout.
It is interesting to note that Xinhua issued a separate readout to elaborate on Xi’s comment about China’s position on the Middle East, but not on the Ukraine war. It reads: “China has always believed that the sovereignty and security of all countries should be respected. China has consistently played a constructive role in easing tensions and cooling down the situation, encouraging all parties to stick to a peaceful choice and maintain the momentum of negotiations. China supports the US and Iran in returning to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, hoping that both sides will return to the track of resolving issues through dialogue and negotiation as early as possible, ultimately reach a comprehensive agreement including the nuclear issue, and achieve peace at an early date.”
But it is still debatable whether China has unprecedented influence over the two conflicts or over how to end the two conflicts. The wars may still largely hinge on the US and its global strategy policy.


Question 3: Iran, Ukraine wars

A question from an SCMP reader on X: Do rare-earth export controls and LNG purchase pledges make the agenda, or is this a photo-op tariff freeze?
Wendy Wu: Rare-earth export controls are definitely a top priority in the trade talks between the two countries. The issue was also expected to be touched on during this trip, but no details have been released.
There has been no public information about LNG purchases during the summit, and any agreement of commercial deals might be undermined if overall relations deteriorate. Beijing also clearly expressed that it would not compromise its core interests in exchange for commercial deals. Remember Trump’s visit to China in 2017: China’s LNG purchases from the US were to some extent paused or stalled during the rapid worsening of relations.
But that does not mean this is just a photo-op tariff freeze. The two-month extension of the trade war truce will build up momentum for further trade talks.


Question 4: Just a photo op?

Xi’s US summit: Access real-time updates, geopolitical risk analysis, and exclusive reporting from an Asian perspective. Subscribe now with our limited-time offer to stay ahead.


Stay ahead


From firm handshakes and arm touches to bows and laughs, an expert decodes the body language as the two leaders meet in Washington. Read more here.


Pat on the back?

Is China likely to set up e-automaking factories in the US since Trump loves manufacturing?
Wendy Wu: Donald Trump has signalled his openness to the idea, but reality may not allow for it. In the foreseeable future, it is very unlikely that Chinese EV makers such as BYD will set up factories in the US.
US, European and Japanese auto-trade groups have urged the US to shut out Chinese automakers. There is bipartisan congressional opposition in the US to block any attempt to let Chinese automakers in, citing national security and price competition concerns.
US concerns over more Chinese FDI were one of the main reasons for stalled progress on the Board of Investment, an outcome reached during Trump’s China visit in May.


Question 5: Manufacturing


With culinary diplomacy on the menu and tech titans at the table, Xi spoke of “a new historical juncture” for ties and Trump talked up trade. More takeaways from the White House state dinner here.


How was dinner?

A question from an SCMP reader on YouTube: What will be the future of the AI war between the US and China?
Wendy Wu: Managing the competition in AI sits right at the centre of the summit. The overall picture in the coming years of the US-China tech rivalry is expected to be centred on AI.
Differences already exist and the rivalry is fracturing into two distinct camps – not only in how to develop AI, but also compete for the middle powers and Global South.
Despite awareness of the need to cooperate in AI, the low level of political trust remains the main barrier between the two.
Chinese firms have been targeted and accused of stealing and copying American models through “industrial-scale distillation campaigns”. Beijing has pushed back strongly, accusing Washington of seeking a monopoly on the new technology and curbing China’s development, and warning of countermeasures. This might be a new – and risky – flashpoint in bilateral relations.


Question 6: AI war

Gene Racicot asks: How is accurate translation [between parties at the summit] delivered and confirmed?
Wendy Wu: This is a very good question, but also one of the most difficult to answer.
The speeches at the summit have been carefully drafted and choreographed to avoid misunderstanding and unnecessary risk of confrontation.
It is not only an issue of how to properly translate the two vastly different languages, but also how to interpret political language, both verbally and in writing. Sometimes, the choice of a letter or a Chinese character can carry subtle political messages, or trigger speculation of a shift in bilateral relations.
If we recall a four-character Chinese idiom in the Chinese statement of the phone call between Wang Yi and Marco Rubio: hao zi wei zhi.
Different translations can lead to sharp contrasts in outcomes, and it also matters who the recipient is.


Question 7: Lost in translation


Beijing has found various ways beyond direct government contact to send signals to Washington. Find out more here.


From ping-pong to pickleball

A question from an SCMP reader on Instagram: There seem to not be any concrete deals struck at all; a very weird trip. How should we understand it? As just a gesture?
Wendy Wu: No, it is more than a gesture, more than symbolic.
For a state-level summit like between China and the US, form itself is substance. The visit is not just for concrete deals to be struck. The deals themselves are not the ultimate goals.
Talks at this highest level matter as they set the tone on how to navigate the rivalry on all fronts, to avoid landmines. Many issues require consensus between the leaders first before the bureaucracies on both sides can push them forward.
China needs to maintain baseline stability in relations with US as it is bracing for a key political event: the fifth plenum next month, which will be crucial for the top leadership reshuffle next year.
Such unprecedented and grand pageantry for Xi can also convey a message to others – especially US allies – that China is on equal footing with the US. That is the base for meaningful dialogue going forward. It may also affect how other countries deal with Beijing.


Question 8: An unusual trip?

A question from the comments: From the viewpoint of both Beijing and Washington, how do you think the upcoming US midterms will impact the optics, dialogue and results of this state visit?
Wendy Wu: Still remember the prime time attack by Trump on China over alleged election interference? There were only very shortly lived concerns that it might derail Xi’s visit.
Trump’s purpose was to display toughness on China, but he also had an eye on this year’s midterm elections.
Beijing, at the time, made only a mild response to Trump’s accusation.
China has a quite different political system from the US, which determines how it frames and decides its foreign policies. It may sound quite cliche, but Beijing pays more attention to policy continuity and long-term strategy with the US stretching beyond the midterm elections. The two-month trade truce extension agreed ahead of the summit offers an opportunity for both sides to bypass the impact of US domestic changes, and also signals Beijing’s cautious approach in addressing possible disruptive factors.


Question 9: US midterms

When Chinese and US leaders meet, the world pays attention. In this infographic, we look at more than five decades of top-level China-US diplomacy, from Richard Nixon’s ice-breaking visit in 1972 to the present day.






Handshakes of history

Another question from a reader on YouTube (and our last question for the day): What is your opinion on US influence & potential moves in the India-China relationship & multipolar world order?
Wendy Wu: “Rising East, declining West” was a very popular view in China a couple of years ago. But since the rise of such views, there have been calls against such extreme optimism. We don’t shy away from admitting China has quickly caught up with the US, which is still the most powerful nation and possesses the most advanced technology. Meanwhile, its influence has been increasingly challenged by its allies, the rise of middle powers and the Global South.
Liu Cixin’s Three-Body trilogy is a perfect metaphor for the fast-changing world order. How long a set of globally accepted rules on new frontiers such as AI and space can be built up will determine whether we are bracing for an era of chaos or not.


Question 10: The China-India relationship

We have come to the end of this question-and-answer session with SCMP China Editor Wendy Wu.
Thank you for reading and for submitting insightful questions. We were unable to answer every single query sent to us, but we hope you take part in future Q&As nonetheless.
If you have any feedback on this Q&A, please email shea.driscoll@scmp.com with your thoughts.
Have a great Mid-Autumn Festival and look forward to our continuing coverage of Xi’s trip to Washington.


AI war, Taiwan and translation: SCMP answers your questions from Xi-Trump summit

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}China Editor Wendy Wu tackles reader queries in this live question-and-answer session, after the two leaders’ closely watched summit

China Editor Wendy Wu tackles reader queries in this live question-and-answer session, after the two leaders’ closely watched summit