China scours for bargaining chips to put on Trump-Xi summit table: sources

Last Updated on February 27, 2026 9:00 pm

BY Dewey Simin Beijing and Laura Zhou

Beijing has called for all hands on deck to work out what ever-unpredictable US President Donald Trump might demand when he sits down with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in a few weeks.

Several sources, all speaking on condition of anonymity, said various Chinese government departments had been told to research and assess the US leader’s potential demands and come up with possible concessions Beijing could put on the table.

According to the sources, the entities included China’s Ministry of Commerce and the National Development and Reform Commission.
Agreements are being mapped out in a range of areas but, the sources said, a breakthrough on Taiwan remained highly unlikely.

China has yet to formally announce Trump’s visit, but its foreign ministry has said the two countries have been “in communication” about the trip.

Source :SCMP