Trump’s China trip highlights bipartisan shift in Washington’s approach to Beijing

Trump’s China trip highlights bipartisan shift in Washington’s approach to BeijingLawmakers from both parties move debate from trade and engagement towards security, Taiwan and strategic rivalry with Beijing3-MIN READ3-MIN1ListenPublished: 2:07am, 19 May 2026Updated: 3:22am, 19 May 2026Congressional reaction to US President Donald Trump’s visit to China highlighted how sharply Washington’s political consensus on Beijing has shifted in recent years, with lawmakers from both parties warning against any perceived softening of US support for Taiwan or broader strategic competition with the mainland.While Democrats criticised Trump for appearing too accommodating towards Beijing, many Republicans also stressed that economic engagement with China should not come at the expense of deterrence in the Taiwan Strait, underscoring the increasingly bipartisan nature of US China hawkishness.Few lawmakers from either party opposed the summit itself, however, reflecting a broader acceptance in Washington that communication between the world’s two largest economies remains necessary even as strategic rivalry intensifies.Select VoiceSelect Speed0.8x0.9x1.0x1.1x1.2x1.5x1.75x00:0000:001.00x