The planned trip of U.S. President Donald Trump to China has been rescheduled for mid-May due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit Washington later this year in response.
Initially set for early April, Trump’s visit to Beijing is now slated for May 14 and 15. The decision to postpone the meeting was initiated by Trump himself.
White House spokesperson Carolyn Levitt stated that the change was prompted by the escalating situation in the Middle East. “Last week, Trump announced that he requested China to postpone the summit, citing the war with Iran,” she noted.
In addition to Trump’s trip to China, both nations have agreed on a visit from a Chinese delegation to the U.S. Levitt confirmed that Xi Jinping, accompanied by his wife, will travel to Washington later this year, although a specific date for this visit has yet to be determined.
This summit between the U.S. and Chinese leaders has faced multiple delays. Initially, the meeting was set for the first week of April, with global security as the primary topic of discussion. However, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has been a significant barrier to the meeting.
Trump has expressed willingness to delay his visit, setting certain conditions for Beijing amidst rising tensions in the region. Subsequently, it was revealed that the U.S. administration would not set a new date for the summit until the active phase of the conflict with Iran concludes.
While the White House officially denied a direct link between the timing of the trip and military actions, sources from Politico confirmed that the situation regarding Iran was a crucial factor in the postponement.
President Trump's visit to China has been postponed to mid-May due to escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly the conflict with Iran. A reciprocal visit by President Xi Jinping to Washington is also planned for later this year, although specific dates remain undecided.