China rattled by Trump White House chaos weeks ahead of Xi visit. It has happened before

Chinese officials are growing increasingly uneasy as the Trump administration fails to organize a smooth visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington. Less than six weeks before the summit, Beijing is facing chaos within the US administration, just as it did during Trump's previous trip to China. Sources tell the South China Morning Post that Chinese officials are encountering disorganization, coordination issues, and a lack of progress in setting objectives for the leaders' meeting.

The State Department has not taken the lead in organizing the visit, which may be due to disagreements within Trump's inner circle over the tone and framing of the event. With the September summit taking place on foreign soil, Chinese officials worry they will have limited control over public messaging and optics. The main item on the agenda is a potential $30 billion tariff reduction for Chinese goods.

Chinese officials are particularly concerned because the event is scheduled at a time when the two economies are attempting to stabilize relations following a May summit where both leaders pledged a strategic partnership. Recent trade disputes, such as the addition of Chinese companies to the US Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act entity list and bans on certain US exports, have further strained relations.

Chinese officials are wary of Trump's unpredictability, fearing a surprise announcement that could complicate the situation during the summit.