Senate Armed Services Chairman Questions ‘Lavish Welcome’ for Xi Ahead of Trump Talks

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) said he would have advised President Donald Trump against inviting Chinese leader Xi Jinping to Washington for “such a lavish welcome,” citing unresolved disputes with Xi and the Chinese Communist Party.

Xi is scheduled to arrive on Sept. 23, with Trump set to greet him at Joint Base Andrews.

The White House will hold a state arrival ceremony the following morning involving 479 U.S. military personnel and a flyover by a B-2 Spirit bomber and four F-22 Raptors, followed by Trump–Xi talks and a state dinner.

“Again, I would not have scheduled such a thing,” Wicker said of the dinner during his Sept. 22 Senate floor speech.

He urged Trump to address military, human rights, and regional security disputes with Beijing.

The arrival ceremony will also include an Armed Forces Full Honor Cordon, the U.S. Marine Band playing the two countries’ national anthems, remarks by Trump and Xi, and demonstrations by Army and Marine ceremonial units.

Melania Trump and Xi’s wife, Peng Liyuan, are scheduled to visit the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art later that day.

The state visit will continue on Friday, when Trump and the first lady are scheduled to host Xi and Peng for tea in the White House Red Room before the couples visit the National Archives.

Senior lawmakers from both parties have separately urged Trump to raise security and economic concerns during the visit, although their criticisms and policy priorities differ.

Human Rights, Regional Security

Wicker said Trump should question Xi about China’s “massive military build-up” and cited press reports that China provided satellite imagery intelligence to Iran that contributed to the deaths of U.S. troops.

“I would certainly suggest that the president try to get an answer to that,” Wicker said.

The senator also urged Trump to raise the Chinese regime’s persecution of Uyghurs, Tibetan Buddhists, Christians, and Falun Gong practitioners.

“Mr. President, during every minute of dialogue, our commander-in-chief should keep in mind that his guest is a brutal, unelected, and oppressive dictator who seeks to dominate his neighbors and whose massive military arsenal is aimed directly at the United States of America,” Wicker said.

On Taiwan, Wicker urged Trump to question Xi about Beijing’s goal of bringing the self-governed island under its control and compared that prospect with the loss of political freedoms in Hong Kong.

Wicker also cited Chinese naval actions against Philippine fishermen and sailors and pressure on U.S. allies and partners in the region.

He said Trump intends to discuss trade and artificial intelligence with Xi and called those appropriate subjects for the meeting.

“Perhaps some progress will be made,” Wicker said.

Other Lawmakers Press Trump

Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, John Moolenaar (R-Mich.), sent Trump a Sept. 18 letter calling for action over reports of Chinese support for Iran, Chinese automakers seeking access to the U.S. market, Beijing’s pressure over U.S. security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, and China’s access to advanced American technology.

“China’s attempts to interfere with your administration’s management of American arms exports and related security cooperation with allies and partners should be rejected out of hand,” Moolenaar wrote.

He also backed continued U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and wrote that the United States should “redouble our efforts to prevent PRC access to the crown jewels of American AI technology,” using the acronym for China’s official name, the People’s Republic of China.

Seven Democratic senators issued their own statement on Sept. 22, including Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking member Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Armed Services Committee ranking member Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-Va.).

“The People’s Republic of China presents a greater threat to American security and prosperity than ever before,” the seven senators said.

They cited public reports that Chinese entities were providing Iran and its proxies with satellite imagery, technology and battlefield intelligence, as well as China’s access to advanced chips and manufacturing equipment, military pressure on Taiwan and Beijing’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The senators called on Trump to restrict Chinese access to advanced technology, support Taiwan’s defense, press Xi over Beijing’s support for Russia and confront him over Chinese assistance to Iran.

“We can’t let President Xi leave stronger than when he arrived,” the seven Democratic senators said.