Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington has received a noticeably cooler reception from U.S. lawmakers than the warm welcome offered by President Donald Trump, with members of both parties using the high profile visit to raise concerns over China’s military, economic and geopolitical activities.
Xi arrived in Washington on Wednesday for a state visit that included an elaborate welcome from Trump. However, on Capitol Hill, lawmakers from both Republicans and Democrats used speeches, hearings, press conferences and letters to highlight longstanding disputes between the United States and China.
The tensions have been further complicated by the ongoing U.S. war with Iran, as American officials accuse Beijing of supporting Iran’s economy and providing military-related components and intelligence.
Sen. Roger Wicker, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, criticized the decision to invite Xi for what he described as a lavish state visit.
“Quite frankly, had the White House asked me for advice, I would have suggested the president not invite Xi Jinping to Washington,” Wicker said on the Senate floor.
Wicker said Trump should use his discussions with Xi to address several contentious issues, including China’s activities in the South China Sea, Taiwan, trade and artificial intelligence.
He also argued that China’s military posture poses a direct challenge to U.S. interests.
The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party also stepped up its criticism ahead of Xi’s arrival. The committee released a video outlining Xi’s rise to power and criticizing his government’s record, describing him as a major opponent of freedom and liberty.
The panel, established in 2023, has held hearings on human rights in China and promoted legislation covering economic, technological and national security issues involving Beijing.
Taiwan was another major issue raised by lawmakers.
Sen. Mitch McConnell and three other Republican senators urged the Trump administration to move forward with weapons sales and other assistance to Taiwan. In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, they argued that maintaining Taiwan’s ability to deter a potential attack should remain a U.S. priority.
China has repeatedly called on Washington to stop arms sales to Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory.
The issue has also become linked to broader U.S.-China trade negotiations. Following a previous meeting between Trump and Xi, Washington paused a record setting arms package for Taiwan, with Trump describing weapons sales as a potential negotiating tool in discussions with Beijing.
Democrats, meanwhile, focused heavily on technology and artificial intelligence.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and three other Democratic senators warned against weakening U.S. export controls on advanced semiconductor chips and manufacturing equipment destined for China.
Schumer argued that allowing greater access to advanced U.S. technology could undermine America’s lead in artificial intelligence while increasing national security risks.
“We must reject the false choice Trump keeps making,” Schumer said, arguing that the United States could maintain its technological advantage while also establishing safeguards around artificial intelligence.
The ongoing war with Iran has added another layer to the congressional concerns surrounding China.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called on Trump to raise Beijing’s support for Tehran during his talks with Xi.
“If we want to bring this war to an end, we need to cut off the outside support that allows Iran to keep fighting, and that starts with China,” Shaheen said.
The contrasting reactions highlight the different approaches to Xi’s visit. While the White House has presented the trip as an opportunity for high level diplomacy and discussions on trade, technology and other areas of cooperation, lawmakers on Capitol Hill are using the occasion to press the administration over China’s military activities, Taiwan, technology exports and its relationship with Iran.
For Trump, the visit provides an opportunity to engage directly with Xi on issues affecting U.S.-China relations, while congressional lawmakers continue to push the administration to maintain a firm position on Beijing.
