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Trump praises Xi as \u2018great leader\u2019 at start of high-stakes talks in Beijing<\/p>\n
As meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping began early Thursday, President Donald Trump<\/a> praised the leader while highlighting their personal relationship.<\/p>\n \u201cWe’ve had a fantastic relationship. We’ve gotten along \u2014 when there were difficulties, we worked it out,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n \u201cWhenever we had a problem, we worked it out very quickly, and we’re going to have a fantastic future together,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n Trump also praised Xi,<\/a> saying he has \u201csuch respect for China.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou’re a great leader,\u201d Trump said. \u201cI say it to everybody. You’re a great leader. Sometimes people don’t like me saying it, but I say it anyway because it’s true. I only say the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump added that he brought an extended delegation, including numerous business leaders, who he said \u201clook forward to trade and doing business.\u201d<\/p>\n He said the talks with Xi could amount to the \u201cbiggest summit ever.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI really look very much forward to our discussion. It’s a big discussion,\u201d Trump said. \u201cThere are those that say this is maybe the biggest summit ever. They can never remember anything like it. I can say in the United States, people aren’t talking about anything else.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut it’s an honor to be with you,\u201d he added. \u201cIt’s an honor to be your friend. And the relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before.\u201d<\/p>\n Posted by Michael Sinkewicz<\/p>\n 4 mins agoXi says US, China should be \u2018partners, not rivals\u2019 at start of talks with Trump<\/p>\n Chinese President Xi<\/a> Jinping opened meetings Thursday inside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing by highlighting shared interests with the United States and marking the 250th anniversary of the United States.<\/p>\n \u201cSuccess in one is an opportunity for the other, and a stable bilateral relationship is good for the world,\u201d Xi said in remarks translated into English.<\/p>\n \u201cChina and the United States both stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation,\u201d he continued. \u201cWe should be partners, not rivals. We should help each other succeed and prosper together, and find the right way for major countries to get along well with each other in the new era.\u201d<\/p>\n Addressing President Donald Trump, Xi said he looked forward to discussions on major issues important to both countries and the world.<\/p>\n \u201cMr. President, I look forward to our discussions on major issues important to our two countries and the world, and working together with you to set the course for and steer the giant ship of China-U.S. relations<\/a> so as to make 2026 a historic landmark year that opens up a new chapter in China-U.S. relations,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Posted by Michael Sinkewicz<\/p>\n 48 mins agoTrump meets Xi in Beijing as high-stakes talks begin<\/p>\n President Donald Trump<\/a> arrived at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing shortly after 10 a.m. local time to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.<\/p>\n The two leaders shook hands before watching a welcome ceremony, standing side by side as their national anthems played.<\/p>\n They then walked along a red carpet to inspect a military honor guard.<\/p>\n Both leaders paused in front of dozens of children waving flowers during the ceremony.<\/p>\n The two leaders then entered the Great Hall to begin bilateral meetings.<\/p>\n Posted by Michael Sinkewicz<\/p>\n 1 hour agoFormer Chinese military official says Beijing sees itself as equal to US ahead of Trump Xi summit<\/p>\n A former senior Chinese military official<\/a> said Beijing increasingly views itself on equal footing with the U.S. as President Donald Trump prepares for a high-stakes summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.<\/p>\n Speaking with Fox News\u2019 Brett Baier, Zhou Bo, a former senior colonel in China\u2019s People\u2019s Liberation Army, said Trump\u2019s visit alone is seen as a win domestically.<\/p>\n \u201cThe fact that Donald Trump is visiting China is already a success,\u201d Zhou said, adding that many in China now believe the country stands as an equal to the U.S. on the global stage.<\/p>\n Zhou also suggested China could play a role in easing tensions in the Persian Gulf, where conflict tied to Iran has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. He described the situation as unstable and said it is in China\u2019s interest to see a resolution.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is also in our interest to see an early ending of this war,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n While acknowledging the disruption, Zhou said the impact on China\u2019s energy supply is \u201cbearable,\u201d citing diversified energy sources and long-term planning, though he noted the broader instability still poses risks to the global economy.<\/p>\n On Taiwan, Zhou made clear the issue remains a core priority for Beijing and is expected to come up during the summit. He said any shift in U.S. policy language \u2014 particularly moving from not supporting Taiwan independence to actively opposing it \u2014 would be seen as a meaningful change by China.<\/p>\n Despite ongoing tensions, Zhou downplayed the likelihood of imminent conflict, saying China continues to favor \u201cpeaceful reunification\u201d and framing the U.S.-China relationship as competitive rather than hostile.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are not your enemy\u2026 we are best described by you as a competitor,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n 1 hour agoMarco Rubio urges China to act on Iran as crisis impacts cargo and global shipping routes<\/p>\n Secretary of State Marco Rubio said China<\/a> has a strong economic and strategic incentive to step in and help curb Iran\u2019s actions in the Persian Gulf, warning the ongoing crisis threatens global stability.<\/p>\n Speaking with Fox News\u2019 Sean Hannity, Rubio said Chinese-linked cargo has already been impacted, noting that ships tied to China are effectively stuck in the region amid uncertainty over safe passage through the Strait.<\/p>\n \u201cYou saw a Chinese, not Chinese-flagged vessel, but it was Chinese cargo got hit over the weekend,\u201d Rubio said, adding that the situation highlights the risks of allowing selective access through the critical waterway.<\/p>\n Rubio argued the disruption poses a broader threat to China\u2019s economy, which relies heavily on energy shipments moving through the Strait and on global demand for its exports. He warned that as economies struggle amid the crisis, demand for Chinese goods could fall and exports could \u201cdrop precipitously.\u201d<\/p>\n He added that the U.S. hopes to push China to take a more active role in pressuring Iran.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s in their interest to resolve this,\u201d Rubio said.\u00a0<\/p>\n 1 hour agoRubio says US must balance rivalry and cooperation with China as tensions persist<\/p>\n Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that the United States must carefully navigate its relationship with China<\/a> as tensions between the two global powers continue to grow.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s both our top political challenge geopolitically, and it’s also the most important relationship for us to manage,\u201d Rubio said during an appearance on Fox News\u2019 \u201cHannity.\u201d<\/p>\n Rubio pointed to China\u2019s growing power as a key factor shaping global dynamics, saying clashes between U.S. and Chinese interests are inevitable.<\/p>\n \u201cWe’re going to have interests of ours that are going to be in conflict with interests of theirs,\u201d he said, adding that maintaining peace and stability will require careful management.<\/p>\n At the same time, Rubio emphasized that the relationship is not purely adversarial and could include areas of cooperation.<\/p>\n \u201cThere might be some areas of cooperation, too, and we want to make sure we don’t walk away from those,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n 5 hours agoReport says China helped Iran rebuild missile and drone capabilities ahead of Trump Xi meeting<\/p>\n China has played<\/a> a key role in helping Iran rebuild its military capabilities following recent U.S. strikes as President Donald Trump prepares to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, according to a report.<\/p>\n JINSA.org reported that Beijing has provided Tehran with dual-use items for ballistic missile production, as well as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities and air defense systems, helping Iran recover from damage sustained during recent conflicts.<\/p>\n The report said China also supplied sodium perchlorate, a key chemical precursor used in missile fuel, in quantities sufficient for hundreds of missiles, enabling Iran to rapidly rebuild its ballistic missile program after suffering significant losses.<\/p>\n JINSA.org reported that China continued bolstering Iran\u2019s capabilities ahead of U.S. military operations, including by moving surveillance assets into the Middle East and working to strengthen Tehran\u2019s offensive capabilities.<\/p>\n The report added that Beijing was sending offensive drones to Iran and was close to finalizing a deal for CM-302 supersonic missiles, while also deploying vessels capable of tracking U.S. naval activity and potentially providing targeting data for Iranian operations.<\/p>\n Chinese companies also published satellite imagery of U.S. military assets in the region, signaling Beijing\u2019s ability to monitor American movements and potentially share intelligence, while China participated in joint naval exercises with Iran and Russia to enhance coordination.<\/p>\n The analysis argued that Trump\u2019s upcoming summit with Xi presents a key opportunity for the United States to pressure China to halt its support for Iran and curb the transfer of military and dual-use technologies.<\/p>\n 6 hours agoTrump gets red-carpet welcome in China, but past Beijing trip shows pageantry only goes so far<\/p>\n President Trump received a red-carpet welcome when he landed in Beijing Wednesday with a military honor guard, band and children waving American and Chinese flags<\/a> ahead of high-stakes talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.<\/p>\n The ceremony also highlighted the bigger question around Trump\u2019s return to China about whether this visit can yield more lasting progress than his 2017 trip, which featured major business announcements but was followed by a sharp deterioration in U.S.-China trade relations.<\/p>\n The meeting comes as trade tensions, the Iran war and disputes over Taiwan place new pressure on Washington and Beijing to stabilize relations between the world\u2019s two largest economies.<\/p>\n The red carpet was rolled out with a welcome ceremony consisting of a military honor guard and a military band with Chinese children waving American and Chinese flags.<\/p>\n Find out what else happened during the red-carpet welcome in China<\/a>.<\/p>\n This is an excerpt from a story by Fox News Digital\u2019s Ashley J. DiMella.<\/p>\n 6 hours agoPompeo says Trump must press China on Iran support during high stakes talks<\/p>\n Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday that President Donald Trump should prioritize confronting China<\/a> over its role in the Middle East as the president meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.<\/p>\n \u201cThey know it’s diminishing our stockpiles of weapons. They know it’s distracting us and taking our attention,\u201d Pompeo told Martha MacCallum on \u201cThe Story,\u201d arguing that China has a political incentive to see conflict with Iran continue.<\/p>\n Pompeo warned that Chinese support for Iran \u2014 including potential transfers of technology \u2014 must be addressed directly during the talks, calling it a threat to U.S. interests and security.<\/p>\n \u201cIf there are, in fact, Chinese companies transferring technology that’s killing American kids, putting our lives at risk,\u201d Pompeo said. \u201cHe needs to be very clear that that is completely unacceptable and tell XI Jinping, \u2018stop it, don’t do that,\u2019 and that we will hold them accountable if they continue to deliver weaponry and capabilities, whether it’s cyber mapping technology, targeting systems to the Iranian leaders, so they can put Americans at risk. That is completely unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n He also accused China of using the conflict to weaken the United States strategically while benefiting from the diversion of American military focus away from the Indo-Pacific.<\/p>\n \u201cI think their political objective is to say, let’s distract America, let’s cost them money, and let’s make life difficult for our adversary,\u201d Pompeo said.<\/p>\n Pompeo added that longstanding issues such as intellectual property theft remain unresolved, expressing skepticism that meaningful progress would be made during the trip without increased pressure on Beijing.<\/p>\n 7 hours agoChina tweaks Rubio name as sanctioned secretary joins Trump in Beijing<\/p>\n U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio<\/a> traveled to Beijing with President Donald Trump despite being under Chinese sanctions, in a diplomatic workaround that appeared to hinge on Beijing altering the Chinese spelling of his name.<\/p>\n ChannelNewsAsia.com reported that Chinese officials<\/a> began using a different character for the first syllable of Rubio\u2019s surname shortly before he took office, allowing the government to sidestep sanctions that had barred him under the previous transliteration.<\/p>\n Rubio, who was sanctioned twice by China during his time in the Senate over his criticism of Beijing\u2019s human rights record, was seen boarding Air Force One ahead of his first official visit to the country as secretary of state.<\/p>\n The report cited diplomats who said the name change likely enabled China to bypass the entry restrictions tied to the earlier spelling, though the Chinese embassy did not immediately respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n Despite his history as a vocal critic of Beijing, Rubio has supported Trump\u2019s efforts to strengthen trade ties with Chinese President Xi Jinping, even as tensions persist over Taiwan, human rights and broader geopolitical competition.<\/p>\n 7 hours agoBeijing draws red line on Taiwan as Trump heads into high stakes talks<\/p>\n China on Wednesday reiterated its opposition to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan ahead of President Donald Trump\u2019s arrival in Beijing for high-stakes talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a>, as tensions over the island\u2019s status remain a central flashpoint.<\/p>\n ChannelNewsAsia.com reported that the issue of Taiwan \u2014 which China claims as its own territory \u2014 is expected to be a key topic during Trump\u2019s meetings with Xi, alongside broader concerns over trade and regional security.<\/p>\n A spokesperson for China\u2019s Taiwan Affairs Office said Beijing \u201cfirmly opposes\u201d any U.S. military ties with Taiwan, underscoring what it called a consistent and unequivocal position against weapons sales to the island.<\/p>\n \u201cWe firmly oppose the United States engaging in any form of military ties with China’s Taiwan region, and firmly oppose the United States selling weapons to China’s Taiwan region,\u201d spokesperson Zhang Han said. \u201cThis position is consistent and unequivocal.\u201d<\/p>\n The U.S. is legally required to provide Taiwan with defensive capabilities despite lacking formal diplomatic relations, and the Trump administration previously approved an $11 billion arms package for Taipei, the largest of its kind, according to ChannelNewsAsia.com.<\/p>\n Beijing has repeatedly described Taiwan as a \u201ccore\u201d national interest and warned against any moves supporting its independence, with officials saying China\u2019s resolve to oppose separatism is \u201cas firm as a rock.\u201d<\/p>\n 8 hours agoSinema says Trump\u2019s China visit signals AI showdown with high stakes<\/p>\n Former Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, co-chair of the AI Infrastructure Coalition, said Wednesday that President Donald Trump\u2019s trip to China<\/a> is designed to project American dominance in artificial intelligence and send a message to both Beijing and Tehran as tensions over trade, technology and national security continue to grow.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have been in a race with China for AI dominance for a number of years, and it’s so incredibly important that American AI is the global AI,\u201d Sinema said during an appearance on \u201cFox & Friends.\u201d \u201cWe know that China will develop AI with Chinese Communist Party values, they will sell it and allow folks like Iran to use it. And then, they will use that AI to hurt our interests.\u201d<\/p>\n Sinema said Trump\u2019s decision to bring top technology and finance executives to Beijing was intentional and strategic as the U.S. competes with China for leadership in artificial intelligence and advanced technology.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it’s strategic that the president has taken leaders from the AI community and the companies that actually help build that American AI on that trip,\u201d Sinema said. \u201cHe’s got Meta, he’s got xAI, he’s got Apple, but he also has the finance folks who are helping build that structure.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, what he’s done by taking these 17 leaders, handpicked, is he\u2019s sending a message to China and by proxy to Iran,\u201d Sinema added. \u201cWe’ve got the technology. We’re going to be in charge.\u201d<\/p>\n 8 hours agoStocks rise as Trump\u2019s China trip fuels hopes for a major market shift<\/p>\n Stocks climbed Wednesday as investors bet President Donald Trump\u2019s Beijing trip \u2014 which included Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang \u2014 could signal a softer U.S. stance toward China<\/a> and a potential easing of tensions surrounding AI chip exports.<\/p>\n Reuters reported that markets closely watched Trump\u2019s arrival in Beijing ahead of meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, with investors searching for signs the two sides could stabilize trade ties as global economic pressures mount.<\/p>\n Huang\u2019s presence on the trip also drew attention because Nvidia sits at the center of the global AI race and has been caught between U.S. export controls and Chinese demand for advanced semiconductors, highlighting the delicate balance between national security concerns and commercial ties with China\u2019s technology sector.<\/p>\n Broader market concerns still lingered in the background after Boston Federal Reserve President Susan Collins warned additional interest rate hikes may be needed if inflation pressures do not abate, while oil prices remained elevated above $100 per barrel.<\/p>\n Reuters contributed to this report.<\/p>\n 9 hours agoTrump resting before big Wednesday night (Thursday morning) schedule on Xi summit<\/p>\n President Donald Trump is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a> on Thursday morning in Beijing, with a bilateral meeting and state banquet on the schedule as the two leaders begin a closely watched summit.<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s early schedule in China begins with executive time at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday, which is 8 a.m. Thursday local time in Beijing.<\/p>\n The president is scheduled to arrive at the Great Hall of the People at 9:55 p.m. ET Wednesday, or 9:55 a.m. Thursday local time, before participating in a greeting with Xi<\/a> at 10 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n Trump and Xi are then expected to hold a bilateral meeting at 10:15 p.m. ET Wednesday, or 10:15 a.m. Thursday in Beijing.<\/p>\n Later Thursday, Trump is scheduled<\/a> to attend a state banquet hosted by Xi at the Great Hall of the People at 6 a.m. ET, or 6 p.m. local time.<\/p>\n China Standard Time is 12 hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time.<\/p>\n Reuters contributed to this report.<\/p>\n Breaking News10 hours agoAir Force One interview with Secretary of State Marco Rubio airing tonight on ‘Hannity’<\/p>\n Secretary of State Marco Rubio sat down with Sean Hannity aboard Air Force One while en route to China for President Donald Trump\u2019s high-stakes summit<\/a> with Chinese President Xi Jinping.<\/p>\n The interview, which will air 9 p.m. ET on Fox News\u2019 \u201cHannity,\u201d<\/a> focuses on the U.S.-China relationship, Trump\u2019s upcoming talks with Xi and the ongoing conflict with Iran.<\/p>\n Rubio spoke with Hannity as Trump traveled to Beijing for the two-day summit, where trade, China\u2019s support for Iran and Russia, semiconductor chips, artificial intelligence and U.S. agricultural exports are expected to be on the agenda.<\/p>\n Rubio made headlines Tuesday night on Air Force One, wearing the Nike tracksuit<\/a> made famous by Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro during his capture earlier this year.<\/p>\n The sit-down comes as Trump and Xi prepare for closely watched negotiations that could shape the future of U.S.-China relations and determine whether the two countries can reach a broader trade agreement.<\/p>\n Watch Sean Hannity\u2019s full interview with Secretary of State Marco Rubio aboard Air Force One tonight at 9 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n China could face additional U.S. tariffs if President Donald Trump\u2019s two-day summit<\/a> with Chinese President Xi Jinping does not produce results, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer warned Wednesday.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I were President Xi, I would worry if this is an unsuccessful summit after two days that China could be faced with even more tariffs from the United States,\u201d Comer told Fox Business’ “Mornings With Maria.”<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI think this is a very important trip,” according to Comer. <\/p>\n “Obviously it\u2019s historic, but we have a lot of problems with China,\u201d he continued. \u201cWe really need to have a trade agreement, a fair trade agreement with China<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Any agreement should include Beijing buying more American agricultural products and importing U.S. energy, while also addressing longstanding concerns about China\u2019s conduct toward the United States, he added.<\/p>\n China is stealing intellectual property, manipulating its currency, ignoring environmental standards and helping fund Iran, Comer warned<\/a>.<\/p>\n The U.S. should \u201chermetically seal\u201d its market from Chinese vehicles, Sen. Bernie Moreno<\/a>, R-Ohio, warned Wednesday on Fox News.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat the Chinese have decided to do is create this massive auto industrial complex, not for domestic consumption, but to be predators in the Western world,\u201d Moreno told “Fox & Friends<\/a>.” \u201cSo if they came into the U.S., they would wipe out our automakers, completely devastate our steel industry, our rubber industry, our electronics industry.\u201d<\/p>\n Moreno, who previously worked in the auto industry, said the sector makes up \u201cabout 10% of our entire economy\u201d and argued Chinese vehicles also pose surveillance risks.<\/p>\n \u201cThese are roving surveillance devices,\u201d Moreno said. \u201cThese things could be accessed remotely. They can be manipulated from Beijing. Imagine allowing these kinds of things all over our roads.\u201d<\/p>\n Moreno has introduced a bill to bar Chinese vehicles<\/a> from entering the U.S. market, including through neighboring countries.<\/p>\n \u201cOur bill completely hermetically seals the United States from any Chinese automobiles \u2014 not just the production, not just the importation, but all the way down the supply chain,\u201d Moreno said. \u201cIt\u2019s finally time for Washington to be proactive and protect our industries and protect our American workers.\u201d<\/p>\n Moreno said the legislation would also apply to Chinese vehicles attempting to enter<\/a> from Canada or Mexico, with enforcement tied to vehicle identification numbers.<\/p>\n \u201cOur bill prohibits the importation or driving of any Chinese vehicle on any American road,\u201d Moreno said. \u201cSo if you went to Canada or Mexico and you try to drive into the United States after my bill passes, you would not be able to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n 11 hours agoSchumer says Americans should \u2018fear what Trump may concede to China\u2019<\/p>\n President Donald Trump could give Beijing major concessions to Xi Jinping during his visit to China, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer<\/a>, D-N.Y., warned Wednesday.<\/p>\n \u201cWe all ought to fear what Donald Trump may concede to China, just so he can claim a headline,\u201d Schumer said Wednesday on the Senate floor.<\/p>\n Schumer pointed to Trump\u2019s talk of potential Chinese investment in the U.S., arguing it could threaten American supply chains and economic independence.<\/p>\n \u201cTrump has fantasized about $1 trillion in Chinese investments in America,” Schumer said. “That would give the Chinese a stranglehold on our economy, threaten our supply chains, our economic independence, our national security.<\/p>\n “This is Trump empowering Xi\u2019s Made in China ambitions, selling out American manufacturers<\/a> and workers, giving CCP businesses an edge in undermining America, building industries of the future here at home.\u201d<\/p>\n Schumer also warned Trump could make concessions on electric vehicles, chips, artificial intelligence, fentanyl and Taiwan, saying the risks extend beyond trade.<\/p>\n \u201cDonald Trump could sell out Taiwan, whose people want to continue living in freedom instead of under the jackboot of the Chinese Communist Party,\u201d Schumer said. \u201cAny threat Trump allows Xi Jinping to make against the Taiwanese is a threat to global democracy. It\u2019s also a threat to the global economy, given how many semiconductor chips are made in Taiwan<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Schumer closed the China portion of his remarks by accusing Trump of being outmaneuvered by Xi.<\/p>\n \u201cForget the art of the deal, Trump is practicing the art of the duped,\u201d Schumer said.<\/p>\n 11 hours agoEnergy secretary says US in \u2018nuclear renaissance\u2019 as China expands arsenal<\/p>\n The United States is in a \u201cnuclear renaissance\u201d as lawmakers warned China is rapidly expanding<\/a> its nuclear arsenal and broader military capacity, Energy Secretary Chris Wright told senators Wednesday<\/p>\n \u201cThanks to President [Donald] Trump\u2019s leadership, America\u2019s nuclear renaissance is here,\u201d Wright told the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the Department of Energy and National Nuclear Security Administration\u2019s atomic energy defense activities.<\/p>\n The National Nuclear Security Administration<\/a> is \u201cdelivering more new nuclear weapons and plutonium pits than at any time since the Cold War,\u201d while carrying out seven major warhead modernization programs at once to ensure every leg of the nuclear triad remains \u201csafe, secure, and effective,\u201d according to Wright.<\/p>\n Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., <\/a>used his opening statement to warn China is no longer pursuing a limited nuclear deterrent.<\/p>\n \u201cBeijing is engaged in an unprecedented nuclear expansion under Xi Jinping,\u201d Wicker said. \u201cChina is moving well beyond a minimum deterrent. Instead, China\u2019s building a far larger and more sophisticated nuclear force.\u201d<\/p>\n China has \u201crapidly constructed hundreds of new missile silos,\u201d expanded mobile missile and ballistic missile submarine forces, and invested in long-range bombers as part of what he called a strategy \u201cdesigned to surpass the United States in the coming decade,\u201d Wicker added.<\/p>\n \u201cChina is executing this nuclear buildup alongside a broader military industrial surge,\u201d he concluded. \u201cDeterrence is expensive, but this is a competition we cannot afford to lose.\u201d<\/p>\n 13 hours agoChina unlikely to \u2018stick their neck out\u2019 for U.S. on Iran, former NSC official warns<\/p>\n China is unlikely to offer President Donald Trump meaningful help on Iran when he meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to a former National Security Council official warning<\/a> Wednesday.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Iran war is going to dominate the subtext of this entire visit,\u201d Michael Allen, managing director at Beacon Global Strategies and a former NSC senior director under President George W. Bush, told \u201cFox & Friends.\u201d <\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think China is going to stick their neck out on our behalf,\u201d Allen added. \u201cMaybe we get a little cooperation with them behind the scenes to urge the Iranians to meaningfully compromise, but I don\u2019t think they\u2019re going to give us anything on the order of what we want.\u201d<\/p>\n Allen said the U.S. should use \u201call diplomatic levers\u201d available, including pressure from Gulf allies such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, to encourage China to play a more constructive role. But he said Beijing does not want to appear as though it is helping Washington or abandoning Iran.<\/p>\n \u201cThey don\u2019t want to seem like they\u2019re selling out their ally,\u201d Allen said.<\/p>\n Allen warned that any economic progress should not obscure the larger strategic reality amid multiple ongoing global wars<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to be clear-eyed about this, and that\u2019s that the Chinese are not necessarily our friends on this,\u201d Allen concluded.<\/p>\n Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., is opening a new front in the long-running fight over COVID-19\u2019s origins, convening a Senate hearing Wednesday<\/a> with testimony from a CIA-linked whistleblower who Paul says will accuse the intelligence community of burying evidence tied to the pandemic\u2019s beginnings.<\/p>\n The hearing comes as President Donald Trump is in China for a summit<\/a> with Chinese President Xi Jinping, putting the unresolved question of COVID\u2019s origins back into the political spotlight at a sensitive moment in U.S.-China relations.<\/p>\n Paul previewed the hearing in a post on X, accusing U.S. officials of hiding the truth about the virus and pointing to research in Wuhan, China.<\/p>\n “Tomorrow, a CIA whistleblower will testify before my committee that the intelligence community has covered up the origins of COVID for years,” Paul posted Tuesday on X<\/a>. “Evidence shows the US government funded research in Wuhan, and the resulting virus likely escaped from the lab. The cover-up is real \u2014 Americans deserve the truth.”<\/p>\n The hearing, titled \u201cWhistleblower Testimony on the COVID Coverup<\/a>,\u201d is scheduled to being at 10 a.m. in the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which Paul chairs.<\/p>\n Breaking News14 hours agoAir Force One delegation touches down in Beijing, Trump walks red carpet at 8:08 am ET<\/p>\n Air Force One touches down in Beijing, China at around 7:51 a.m. ET (Wednesday morning U.S. time and Wednesday night in China) at Beijing Capital International Airport.<\/p>\n The plane taxied for around eight minutes before doors opened to prep for the official red-carpet arrival.<\/p>\n President Donald Trump<\/a> deplaned at 8:08 a.m. ET to be greeted by Chinese Vice President H.E. Han Zheng, along with U.S.\u00a0Ambassador to China David Perdue, Chinese\u00a0Ambassador to the U.S H.E.\u00a0Xie\u00a0Feng and Executive Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Ma\u00a0Zhaoxu.<\/p>\n Following him off the plane were Trump\u2019s son, Eric, and Lara Trump, his daughter-in-law, as well as assorted travelers, including Space X chief Elon Musk.<\/p>\n He did not answer questions, instead climbing in a limo on the way to his hotel.<\/p>\n The pomp-filled welcoming ceremony included some 300 Chinese youth, a military honor guard and military band.<\/p>\n \u201cWelcome, welcome! Warm welcome!\u201d the children chanted in Chinese.<\/p>\n Trump has no public events beyond his arrival on Wednesday\u2019s schedule<\/a>, but is set to meet with Xi a series of times Thursday and Friday.<\/p>\n The leaders will hold bilateral talks and a formal banquet Thursday.<\/p>\n Establishing a Board of Trade with China<\/a> is going to be atop the agenda to address differences between the countries. The board could help stability the global economy, if not help push the world toward peace.<\/p>\n Three hundred youngsters waved miniature American and Chinese flags in front of themselves and then over their head in unison.<\/p>\n The Associated Press contributed to this report.<\/p>\n Breaking News14 hours agoTrump arrives at Beijing hotel with no other Wednesday events planned<\/p>\n President Donald Trump<\/a> arrived at his Beijing hotel around 8:35 p.m. local time (8:35 a.m. ET). <\/p>\n A large crowd gathered outside across the street, according to the pool report.\u00a0<\/p>\n This is Trump’s first visit to China<\/a> in more than nine years, and notably the first after COVID-19.<\/p>\n Breaking News15 hours agoChina getting oil out of Strait of Hormuz before Trump-Xi summit<\/p>\n A Chinese supertanker \u2014 carrying two million barrels of Iraqi crude \u2014 was one of two vessels that crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday as President Donald Trump arrived<\/a> in China.<\/p>\n Yuan Hua Hu is now the third known passage by a Chinese oil tanker through the strait since the start of the conflict.<\/p>\n Posted by Lauren Simonetti<\/p>\n 15 hours agoTrump confirms Nvidia’s Huang has seat on Air Force One for economic superpower summit<\/p>\n President Donald Trump issued a rebuke for fake news suggesting Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang<\/a> is not traveling with him to China aboard Air Force One, pushing back on a report that Huang had not been invited to join the high-profile business delegation.<\/p>\n \u201cCNBC incorrectly reported that the Great Jensen Huang, of Nvidia, was not invited,\u201d Trump wrote in a Truth Social post<\/a>, saying Huang was \u201ccurrently on Air Force One\u201d and joking that he would remain there \u201cunless I ask him to leave, which is highly unlikely.\u201d<\/p>\n “Jensen is attending the summit at the invitation of President Trump to support America and the administration’s goals,\u201d a Nvidia spokesman confirmed to Fox Business.\u00a0<\/p>\n Trump’s post came listed the roster of top U.S. executives that includes: Elon Musk, Apple CEO Tim Cook, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, Cargill CEO Brian Sikes, Citi CEO Jane Fraser, GE Aerospace CEO Larry Culp, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra and Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon.<\/p>\n Trump said he plans to ask Chinese President Xi Jinping to \u201copen up\u201d China to American business leaders<\/a>, calling Xi \u201ca Leader of extraordinary distinction\u201d and saying it would be his \u201cvery first request\u201d when the two meet.<\/p>\n Huang\u2019s presence is particularly significant because Nvidia sits at the center of the global AI race and has been caught between U.S. export controls and Chinese demand for advanced semiconductors. <\/p>\n The president framed the trip as a chance to expand access for U.S. companies in China, saying the executives traveling with him<\/a> could \u201cwork their magic\u201d and help raise economic ties between the two countries.<\/p>\n \u201cI have never seen or heard of any idea that would be more beneficial to our incredible Countries,\u201d Trump wrote.<\/p>\n Fox Business’ Elise Oggioni contributed to this report.<\/p>\n 16 hours agoZelenskyy urges Trump to press China toward pushing Russia toward peace<\/p>\n While trade and the global economy<\/a> might be higher priorities for President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is hoping to remain on the agenda, too. <\/p>\n Zelenskyy said Wednesday he hoped that Trump will discuss ending\u00a0the war in Ukraine\u00a0during\u00a0his visit to\u00a0China.<\/p>\n Ukraine has repeatedly urged\u00a0China<\/a>, which has close ties with Russia, to play a bigger role in bringing peace closer.<\/p>\n Reuters contributed to this report.<\/p>\n 16 hours agoTrump to call on Xi to ‘open up’ China in summit to test trade, strength and peace<\/p>\n President Donald Trump is going to be pressing Chinese President Xi Jinping to “open up China” to more American trade.<\/p>\n \u201cI will be asking President Xi, a Leader of extraordinary distinction, to \u2018open up\u2019 China so that these brilliant people can work their magic, and help bring the People\u2019s Republic to an even higher level!\u201d Trump wrote on Truth Social<\/a>, previewing what he said would be his \u201cvery first request\u201d when the two leaders meet.<\/p>\n Trump suggested that American entrepreneurs and executives<\/a> could help drive growth inside China if Beijing lowers barriers and allows U.S. firms more room to operate.<\/p>\n China has tightened its grip on key supply chains, critical minerals and advanced manufacturing, while the United States has sought to protect its lead in semiconductors, artificial intelligence and defense technology. <\/p>\n The Taiwan question remains one of the most sensitive issues on the table. Any discussion of arms sales, military posture or Taiwan\u2019s role in the global semiconductor industry could quickly overshadow trade pledges. Beijing has long treated Taiwan as a red line, while Washington has maintained security and economic ties with the island.<\/p>\n The Iran war<\/a> also hangs over the talks. Reports ahead of the summit said the conflict and its effect on energy markets, inflation and global stability are expected to be part of the discussions.<\/p>\n President\u00a0Donald Trump<\/a>\u00a0is set to arrive in Beijing on Wednesday for high-stakes talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, as the world\u2019s two largest powers prepare to negotiate about Taiwan, trade and a fragile U.S.-China relationship increasingly shaped by military tension and economic rivalry.<\/p>\n The meeting comes at a volatile moment for Washington, as a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran faces mounting strain following recent military exchanges in and around the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n Trump is expected to press Xi on China\u2019s economic and strategic support for both Iran and Russia<\/a>, including oil revenue, dual-use components and potential weapons transfers, according to senior administration officials.<\/p>\n