BBC News Briefing

13 May, 2026

Alex has short blonde hair and blue eyes. She is smiling and wearing a black turtleneck

Alex Binley

Hello. US President Donald Trump has arrived in Beijing, beginning a three-day visit to China. Ahead of his meetings with Chinese Premier Xi Jinping, we take a look at which of the two men is in the stronger position. We also delve into what's causing recruitment to Canada's armed forces to rise, and meet a walrus who's turned up in Norway, having last been seen on a tour of Scotland's north-east coast.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Who has the upper hand, Trump or Xi?

Trump is wearing a very dark blue, almost black suit, a white shirt and purple tie. He is walking along a red carpet and a blue plane can be seeen in the background. He is flanked by a number of men in suits and wtwo women. People waving flags line the red carpet.

Trump was met off Air Force One by Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng, an upgrade from a lower level official who met him in 2017. Credit: Reuters

Thursday will be Trump's most action-packed day in China, and will see him officially welcomed by Xi at China's Great Hall of the People, take part in a "friendship photo", enjoy a state banquet, and of course hold multiple bilateral meetings. Tariffs, technology and AI, the US's relationship with Taiwan, and the war in Iran will likely dominate discussions between the two superpowers. Both men will go into the talks hoping for the outcomes they want, but which of them will succeed? North America editor Sarah Smith explains the power dynamic between two of the world's most powerful people, and as Trump is wont to say, which of them is "holding all the cards".

Sarah's analysis

GET UP TO SPEED

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