US political turmoil overshadows Xi’s state visit to Washington

Domestic political turmoil in the United States and President Donald Trump’s dispute with the media overshadowed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit, according to the South China Morning Post. The visit had been expected to project an image of China and the United States standing on equal footing and to help stabilise relations between the two countries. Instead, attention was drawn to events inside the United States, including turmoil connected to the midterm political environment and a television blackout referenced in the supplied headline.

Trump nevertheless gave Xi a ceremonial welcome. Trump and his wife, Melania, greeted Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, on the tarmac when the Chinese president arrived. The report also referred to what it called many special arrangements for the visit.

The supplied material does not provide details of the talks, agreements or outcomes, and does not explain how the political distractions affected the summit’s formal agenda.