From beef ribs to a ‘heavenly’ walk: Xi-Trump summit symbolism underscored American power and Chinese tradition
- Written by Xianda Huang, Ph.D. Student in Asian Languages and Cultures, University of California, Los Angeles
China's President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump visit the Temple of Heaven in Beijing on May 14, 2026.Brendan Smialowski/Getty ImagesDiplomacy often masquerades as theater. And nearly nine years after his first state visit to China, Donald Trump returned to Beijing with an extended cast of characters.
Alongside the U.S. president on...

