President Trump is preparing to welcome Chinese leader Xi Jinping to Washington for a state visit, a meeting that would bring together the leaders of the world's two largest economies. Artificial intelligence, trade, cybersecurity and the status of Taiwan are expected to frame the talks between the two men.

AI is likely to feature prominently. Both governments have treated leadership in the technology as a strategic priority, and it stands alongside trade as a central thread of the anticipated discussions. The automotive sector is among the frictions in the background, as the rapid expansion of Chinese automakers has drawn attention in the United States over the potential effect on domestic manufacturers.

Taiwan is expected to figure in the discussions. Beijing regards the self-governed island as part of China, while the United States maintains longstanding commitments that have long been a point of contention. Cybersecurity is also anticipated to appear on the agenda.

Commentary ahead of the summit has diverged over Washington's position. CNBC reported that strains between the United States and some of its allies have complicated efforts to apply coordinated pressure on China. Politico described Trump as operating on defense against a Xi it characterized as more powerful than in earlier encounters, and The Atlantic argued that the Chinese leader is positioned to secure much of what he seeks. In a separate piece, Politico characterized the AI dimension of the relationship as an embrace as much as a competition, given the entanglement of the two economies. National Review wrote that U.S. strategy toward China extends beyond tariffs and summit meetings to longer-term questions of technology and alignment.

Reuters reported that Xi is expected to travel to Washington without the delegation of corporate chief executives that has sometimes accompanied high-level Chinese visits, citing sources familiar with the planning. The reasons were not detailed.

References

1. 1.CNBC — reporting that strains between the U.S. and some allies have complicated coordinated pressure on China
2. 2.Politico — characterization of Trump operating on defense against a more powerful Xi; separate piece framing the AI relationship as an embrace as well as a competition
3. 3.The Atlantic — argument that Xi is positioned to secure much of what he seeks
4. 4.National Review — analysis that U.S. strategy toward China extends beyond tariffs and summits to technology and alignment
5. 5.Reuters — report, citing sources familiar with planning, that Xi is expected to travel without a delegation of corporate CEOs