Scepticism and tight security as Trump is welcomed by Xi to Beijing

The Guardian's Amy Hawkins reports from Beijing on Trump's arrival for a summit with Xi Jinping, noting a stark shift in Chinese public sentiment compared to Biden's 2011 visit—where a restaurant once proudly displayed photos of the US vice president, evidence of that visit has now been removed, reflecting diminished reverence for US leadership in China. Hawkins grounds the reporting in on-the-ground observation (interviews with Beijing residents, closure of the Temple of Heaven, ceremonial details at the Great Hall of the People) and includes named sourcing from ordinary Chinese people expressing skepticism about Trump's sincerity, alongside context that Chinese nationalism has grown amid perceived US decline and Trump's recent foreign policy actions (Venezuela, Iran). The reporting is bylined with a dateline, uses direct quotes from residents and scholars, and provides historical context (Kissinger's 1971 visit), meeting established journalistic standards. Independent coverage from the New York Times and Al Jazeera corroborates the summit's focus on Taiwan, trade, and the Iran war, while also noting China's strategic choice to receive Trump through a vice president rather than top-tier protocol, suggesting measured rather than exceptional diplomatic warmth. Watch for the outcomes of Xi-Trump discussions on Taiwan policy and trade, as these appear to be the substantive tests of whether Trump's visit will meaningfully 'ease China-US relations,' as one interviewed taxi driver hoped.