Donald Trump leaves China (Photo/AP)
U.S. staff and members of the traveling media accompanying President Donald Trump reportedly dumped all materials distributed by Chinese officials before boarding Air Force One on Friday.The move came as Trump concluded a high-profile two-day visit to Beijing following a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.U.S. officials collected and threw away several items issued during the visit, including press credentials, delegation badges and disposable phones used by White House staff, according to the White House press team. The materials were reportedly dumped into a bin near the plane’s stairs shortly before leaving Beijing Capital Airport.The unusual move comes despite favorable public perceptions of Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a two-day state visit aimed at strengthening ties between Washington and Beijing.However, behind the scenes, tensions over security and media access were reported to have arisen between Chinese and American officials at several events related to the summit, The Hill reported. During Trump and Xi Jinping’s visit to the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, a U.S. Secret Service agent accompanying a U.S. press corps was allegedly denied entry by Chinese officials because the agent was carrying a gun as part of standard security protocol.The disagreement delayed media access to the venue for nearly 90 minutes after what reporters described as “intense discussions” between U.S. and Chinese officials, according to media reports.Further friction was reported during Trump’s departure, with Chinese authorities allegedly blocking members of the U.S. press corps from immediately joining the president’s motorcade before U.S. aides stepped in and pushed for security restrictions.The tensions echo similar confrontations during previous visits by U.S. presidents to China. In 2016, when former President Obama traveled to Hangzhou for the G20 summit, U.S. and Chinese officials were embroiled in a public dispute over media access and security arrangements.Trump left China after a series of meetings with Xi Jinping and senior Chinese leaders at Zhongnanhai. Zhongnanhai is the heavily fortified Chinese Communist Party leadership in Beijing.Trump delivered a speech before leaving, calling the visit “historic” and praising Xi Jinping, saying that the two sides will continue to strengthen contacts and maintain direct communication.The visit also included a state banquet, a welcome ceremony and discussions on trade, global security and regional stability. Trump said Xi Jinping is expected to visit the United States later this year, which he called a “reciprocal” visit.The trip to China, Trump’s first in nearly a decade, comes amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, trade talks and discussions on global economic stability.
