Trump heads to Beijing as Iran war tensions dominate high-stakes Xi summit

US President Donald Trump departed Washington for Beijing on May 12 ahead of planned meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, even as tensions over the Iran war threaten to overshadow trade-focused talks.

The Details

Trump is scheduled to meet with Xi on Thursday and Friday at a time when the ongoing conflict with Iran looms over the US-China relationship. Speaking before his departure, Trump indicated he expected to have a 'long talk' with the Chinese leader about Iran. 'We're going to have a long talk about it. I think he's been relatively good, to be honest with you,' Trump told reporters.

However, he also gave conflicting signals about how prominent the Iran issue would be during the summit. In another comment, Trump said, 'We have a lot of things to discuss. I wouldn't say Iran is one of them, to be honest with you, because we have Iran very much under control.' He dismissed the need for Beijing's assistance, stating, 'I don't think we need any help with Iran. We'll win it one way or the other, peacefully or otherwise.'

Context

The planned Beijing meetings mark the first face-to-face talks between Trump and Xi since the October 2025 APEC summit in Busan. Despite the president's insistence that the US has Iran 'under control,' his administration has simultaneously sought Chinese cooperation on the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Roughly 20 percent of the world's oil supply moved through the Hormuz waterway before the war, making it a critical concern for global markets.

US officials have publicly urged China to use its influence to help reopen the strait. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have both called on Beijing to intervene. The appeal underscores a tension at the heart of the upcoming summit: while Trump plays down the need for outside help, his own diplomats are pressing for precisely that.

What's Next

Trump's arrival in Beijing comes as Tehran has tightened its grip over the Strait of Hormuz, according to the latest Reuters reporting. The question is whether Xi will be asked directly to help secure the waterway — and if Trump, despite his assertions, will offer anything in return for Chinese cooperation.