Trump to press Xi for help on Iran and Taiwan during Beijing summit

Trade is the headline, but the real story is leverage. Donald Trump heads to Beijing this week for talks with Xi Jinping, and the meeting is no longer just about tariffs, soybeans, or Boeing jets. Iran’s war shock and Taiwan’s security are now sitting right in the middle of the agenda. That matters because this summit could decide whether Washington and Beijing compartmentalize their fights — or start linking them together. ### Why is Iran suddenly central? Because the Iran war turned a trade summit into a crisis summit. Trump’s trip was originally supposed to happen earlier, but it was pushed back after the conflict with Iran escalated. Now Washington wants Beijing’s help on two fronts — reducing China’s purchases of Iranian oil and using whatever influence it has in Tehran to calm the situation. The energy angle is huge, because any progress on reopening the Strait of Hormuz would ease pressure on oil markets fast. (usnews.com) ### Why does China matter so much on Iran? Basically, because China is still the main buyer keeping Iran’s oil money flowing. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said China is buying 90% of Iran’s energy exports, and the U.S. has already started raising the cost. In April, Treasury sanctioned a refinery in China for buying Iranian oil and warned Chinese banks they could face secondary sanctions too. So Trump is not just asking for help — he’s showing Xi that the U.S. can squeeze China’s firms if Beijing refuses. (aljazeera.com) ### What does Xi want in return? Xi’s list is long. China wants relief from U.S. export controls on advanced semiconductors, less pressure on Chinese tech supply chains, and more access to critical industrial inputs and markets. It also wants the U.S. to stop tightening the screws on Chinese companies over sanctions and security issues. In other words, Beijing is unlikely to give Trump something meaningful on Iran for free. (aljazeera.com) ### So where does Taiwan come in? Taiwan is the part that makes everyone nervous. Trump approved an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan in December — the biggest ever for the island — but delivery has not moved forward yet. He has also talked publicly about the sale with Xi, while complaining that Taiwan should pay more for its own protection. That combination has fed a fear in Taipei and Washington that Taiwan could become bargaining material in a broader deal. (usnews.com) ### Is U.S. policy on Taiwan changing? Officially, no. Marco Rubio said U.S. policy has not changed and warned against any forced shift in the status quo. But the anxiety comes from Trump’s style more than from a formal policy rewrite. He tends to treat alliances and security commitments as negotiable pressure points. That does not mean he will trade away Taiwan — but it does mean people around the region think he might test the edges. (abcnews.com) ### What can actually come out of this summit? Probably not a grand bargain. The more realistic outcome is a bundle of partial deals — maybe an extension of the October trade truce, some Chinese purchases of U.S. farm goods or Boeing aircraft, and vague language on crisis management. Reuters’ rundown of the talks says officials are not expecting a breakthrough, just smaller wins that keep the relationship from sliding further. (abcnews.com) ### Why are allies watching so closely? Because a lot of countries are exposed to whatever Trump and Xi decide in private. Europe, Japan, South Korea, and big Asian energy importers all care about rare earths, oil flows, chip controls, and Taiwan stability. A calmer summit could steady supply chains and energy prices. A hostile one could deepen the shock. (usnews.com) ### Bottom line This trip is a test of whether Trump can get Chinese help on Iran without paying for it somewhere else. And the somewhere else everyone worries about is Taiwan. (cnbc.com)