BEIJING (AP) 鈥� For three days in China, President Donald Trump was unusually quiet, not speaking to reporters much and even mostly staying off social media. Then he got on his plane home and unloaded.
Trump’s trip was unexpectedly dominated by discussions about and the notion that Washington and Beijing could adopt a new framework for managing their complicated relationship.
Chinese President Xi Jinping kicked off the whirlwind visit with a warning: If Washington mishandles its relations with the self-governing island of Taiwan, the U.S. and China could end up clashing or .
Trump did not respond publicly, refraining from mentioning Taiwan while in Beijing. But he suggested aboard Air Force One on his way home that Xi’s staunch opposition might make him rethink a planned U.S. arms sale to Taipei.
Among the other topics of discussion were trade and the U.S. and Israel’s , which had been expected to take up most of the attention. Trump spent the trip overtly flattering China’s leader, despite Xi not reciprocating.
And the president did not push back publicly on China’s characterization that he and Xi had agreed to a 鈥渃onstructive” new vision for dealing with their relationship issues.
Here are key takeaways from Trump鈥檚 trip:
Trump held his tongue on Taiwan 鈥� until he was headed home
Before the trip, Trump demonstrated greater ambivalence toward Taiwan in his second term, raising questions about whether he might be open to dialing back support for that Beijing views as its breakaway province.
Secretary of State insisted there was no change in the to Taiwan. But there was always a risk that Trump 鈥� not known for diplomatic nuance 鈥� might make that could have mammoth ramifications for Taiwan.
In the end, Trump said nothing publicly about Taiwan, even as his Chinese counterpart suggested the island was the most important aspect of U.S.-China relations.
But then, pressed by reporters after leaving China, Trump said he had not yet made a decision on whether to carry through with a major arms package sale he previously approved for Taiwan after hearing Xi’s objections.
Trump鈥檚 Republican administration in December authorized an $11 billion weapons package for Taipei, but it has yet to move forward. Lawmakers also approved a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan in January, but the sale cannot advance until Trump formally sends it to Congress.
鈥淧resident Xi and I talked a lot about Taiwan,鈥� Trump told reporters on the presidential plane. He said China’s leader 鈥渄oes not want to see a fight for independence because that would be a very strong confrontation.”
“I heard him out,鈥� Trump said. But 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 make a comment.鈥�
Trump appeared to struggle to recall the name of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te and noted of Washington’s policy toward the island, 鈥淭he last thing we need right now is a war that鈥檚 9,500 miles away.鈥�
Asked if he would consider intervening militarily if China were to attack Taiwan, Trump said he did not want to say 鈥� a nonanswer that is consistent with that has become known as strategic ambiguity.
The policy says the U.S. has agreed to ensure Taiwan has the resources to defend itself if China attempts to force a unilateral change, but it does not expressly say how far Washington will go militarily to counter Beijing, should it come to that.
Trump and Xi still talked about Iran
It appears the leaders had substantive talks about the U.S.-spurred conflict in Iran that has led to a surge in global oil prices and that 鈥� if extended 鈥� could push the world toward recession.
Trump said Xi agrees with him that a nuclear-armed Iran is a bad idea and that the must be reopened. He said Xi even offered to help find an endgame to the war.
Xi and Chinese officials have not confirmed that such an offer was made. China has publicly said the solution should 鈥渢ake into account the concerns of all parties on the Iran nuclear issue.鈥�
In Trump鈥檚 view, , given its dependence on oil and liquefied natural gas coming from the Middle East.
If Trump successfully persuaded Xi to get more engaged, that could be significant for the U.S. effort to find a credible exit from the Iran war.
Xi hailed a new relationship status: strategic stability
China, meanwhile, said the two leaders agreed to a new vision for 鈥渁 constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability.鈥�
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the framework would shape ties for at least three years 鈥� the rest of Trump鈥檚 term 鈥� and focus on cooperation, competition within limits and managing differences.
The idea is 鈥渢o keep the relationship on an even keel,鈥� said Helena Legarda of the Mercator Institute for China Studies in Berlin.
George Chen, a partner at The Asia Group consultancy, said the approach can be seen as progress following the era of Trump’s Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, when the relationship was framed as a strategic competition.
Trump says big trade deals are coming
but offers few details
Trump brought a large group of top CEOs with him to China, including the head of aircraft maker Boeing; Jensen Huang, chief of semiconductor giant ; and , the SpaceX boss who once led Trump’s effort to .
Trump said major deals had been struck and that China could buy some 200 , but he left Beijing without announcing anything concrete. Previous suggestions that Xi would commit to big orders of U.S. soybeans and beef were also pending.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump suggested that China could eventually buy as many as 750 planes from Boeing if the initial order goes well, and that 450 engines produced by General Electric would be included in such a future purchase if it happens.
More details on trade agreements might emerge eventually, but as with all major bilateral accords, the fine print is what matters.
During his first term, Trump used an elaborate signing ceremony before leaving Beijing to cement dozens of deals worth around $250 billion. But not all of what was pledged came to fruition.
Trump repeatedly praised Xi
From the moment Trump opened his mouth in Beijing, he offered nothing but praise for Xi. And it sometimes felt a bit over the top, considering that Xi said nothing similar in return.
Trump called Xi a 鈥済reat leader鈥� and said they were going to have a 鈥渇antastic future together.鈥�
It was an 鈥渉onor鈥� to be with Xi and to be his friend, Trump said, describing his counterpart as 鈥渨arm.鈥�
China鈥檚 president isn鈥檛 known for effusiveness. Trump himself said in a Fox 海角社区app interview that Xi is 鈥渁ll business.鈥�
Xi did say Trump鈥檚 鈥渓andmark visit鈥� had deepened mutual trust. But he found more subtle ways to charm Trump. He promised to send seeds to grow roses at the White House like the ones in the garden at Xi鈥檚 residence where Trump had tea on Friday.
Xi said he hosted Trump there to reciprocate the hospitality Trump showed him when he visited Trump鈥檚 estate in Florida in 2017.
___
Leung reported from Hong Kong, Mistreanu and Wu from Bangkok, and Superville from Washington.
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
