Xi sets red lines for Trump on AI, Taiwan and Iran despite lavish White House welcome

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a stern message to President Donald Trump during their state visit to the United States, outlining key boundaries China would not cross. As Trump hosted Xi at the White House, marking the first such welcome in over a decade, the two leaders discussed tensions affecting the world's two largest economies.

Xi emphasized the importance of peaceful cooperation, stating that there should be "no conflict and no confrontation between us." He also cautioned Trump about the development of artificial intelligence, insisting that it should remain under human control. Xi further urged Trump to show prudence in the Taiwan issue, urging the US leader to avoid recognizing Taiwan's independence.

Additionally, Xi pressed Trump to end the Iran war through negotiation as soon as possible. Despite these red lines, the visit was marked by a grand spectacle, with Trump and Xi inspecting a military parade and witnessing a flyover of American military jets, including a B-2 bomber. In the Oval Office, Trump playfully referred to the Chinese press as the "friendliest" and joked about the durability of the helipad Trump built for the Chinese leader.

However, the topics of Iran, Taiwan, fentanyl trafficking, and jailed Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai were left unaddressed, suggesting that significant breakthroughs were unlikely during the visit.