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Trump’s China visit is already a spectacle on Chinese internet. Strategists are cautious

Tang Xianglong, a senior media commentator, claimed that the visit is far more than a routine diplomatic engagement and could shape the trajectory of Trump 2.0.

Even before Air Force One lands in Beijing, US President Donald Trump’s upcoming China visit between 13 and 15 May has become a political spectacle across the Chinese internet, dominating Weibo trends, strategic commentary, and online debate at a level rarely seen for any other foreign leader’s visit. 

From analysts and policy commentators to social media users, discussion around the summit is capturing curiosity about Trump as well as expectations of a Trump-Xi meeting. In Chinese discourse, it is seen as a high-stakes political moment with implications for trade, Taiwan, global governance, and the balance of leverage between Beijing and Washington.

Weibo fixates on Trump’s China trip 

On Weibo, hashtags such as “China announces the date of Trump’s visit to China”, “US President Trump to visit China May 13-15”, and “Large shipment of materials reportedly linked to Trump’s China visit arrives in Beijing” are generating millions of views. Discussions intensified after reports circulated that US C-17 military transport aircraft had delivered more than 500 tonnes of equipment and supplies to China ahead of the visit. Images and videos allegedly showing US Secret Service vehicles in Beijing further fuelled online fascination.

Chinese social media users appeared particularly intrigued by the scale of preparations surrounding Trump’s arrival. One Weibo user described it as ‘a miniature state machine dropped in by air’. Another widely shared post noted that this was standard procedure for US presidential visits and recalled that Trump’s 2017 China visit followed a similar pattern. However, the user argued that this time the scale appeared much larger, with reports claiming more than 30 sorties, over 1,500 tonnes of supplies, and five Marine One helicopters.

Another widely circulated Weibo post jokingly questioned what was being transported, listing items such as hair gel, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and flip-flops. It added that “after all, Trump must maintain a certain level of style and........

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