Trump leaves Beijing with two major sticking points and cloudy deals

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Trump leaves China with two big sticking points

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This trip was more about vibes than deals:

President Trump is flying back from Beijing today after two days of meetings with the leader of the dueling superpower, Chinese President Xi Jinping.

How did the trip go?: Trump and Xi exchanged lots of pleasantries and photo ops, but it’s unclear what actual, formal deals were made, if any.

Trump was overheard saying Xi would gift him roses for the Rose Garden, which was renovated into a patio last year but still has roses along its perimeter. And Trump invited Xi to visit the White House in September.

Trump left with two major sticking points:

No. 1 — Iran: Hours after Trump left, the Chinese Foreign Ministry called for an end to the war in Iran.

“There is no point in continuing this conflict which should not have happened in the first place. To find an early way to resolve the situation is in the interest of not only the U.S. and Iran, but also regional countries and the rest of the world,” a ministry spokesperson told reporters.

Trump says he didn’t ask China “for any favors” regarding Iran.

No. 2 — Taiwan: China insists it pressured Trump on Taiwan, stressing it is the “most important issue” determining relations between the two countries. Trump told reporters on Air Force One this morning that he “made no commitment” regarding Taiwan.

Backstory: China views the island of Taiwan as its own, but Washington has not recognized Beijing’s claim. Washington also hasn’t recognized Taiwan’s independence but has unofficial ties with the island.

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➤ WHAT WAS NOTABLE FROM THIS TRIP:

The Hill’s Niall Stanage pointed out that “one notable feature of the trip was how........

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