NYT: Chinese Companies Plan Secret Arms Sales to Iran Amid Trump-Xi Summit

American officials informed the New York Times that Chinese companies are negotiating with Iranian authorities to secretly transfer weapons, utilizing third countries to obscure the shipments' origins. This revelation emerges as U.S. President Donald Trump visits Beijing for high-stakes talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The summit agenda is dominated by contentious issues, including trade disputes, the ongoing conflict with Iran, and geopolitical tensions over Taiwan. Despite Trump's earlier claims that Iran was under U.S. control, the war dossier remains a critical friction point, exacerbated by China's status as the largest consumer of Iranian oil. Analysts suggest Trump enters these negotiations with diminished leverage due to domestic legal setbacks on tariffs and low approval ratings. Meanwhile, China has adopted a more decisive global stance, investing heavily in technology and renewable energy. The potential arms deals threaten to further strain U.S.-China relations, complicating efforts to secure agreements on critical minerals and regional stability. Observers note that unlike his 2017 visit, Trump faces a more powerful and assertive Chinese leadership, making significant diplomatic breakthroughs unlikely amidst the backdrop of an unpopular war and economic challenges in both nations.