US Republican senators unhappy with Trump’s reception of Xi Jinping — The Hill

US Republican senators expressed dissatisfaction with the ceremonial reception given by US President Donald Trump to Chinese President Xi Jinping at Joint Base Andrews. Their concerns intensified after a closed national security briefing, where lawmakers were informed of deepening military cooperation between China and Iran, The Hill reports.

China-Iran cooperation

The publication writes that Republicans were concerned by the discovery that Iran had used Chinese satellite imagery to target US military personnel in Jordan. Lawmakers urged Trump to raise with Xi reports that Chinese authorities are providing military assistance to Iran.

They also demanded real trade concessions from Beijing, particularly regarding exports of US agricultural products. According to The Hill, such concessions have not yet been secured during the Trump administration’s negotiations with China.

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Criticism of military honors

Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski called the 21-gun salute and B-1 bomber flyover that accompanied Xi Jinping’s arrival excessive. In her view, military honors for the Chinese leader were unnecessary.

Texas Senator John Cornyn, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, also said he did not support such a ceremonial reception for Xi amid tensions between the United States and China over the war in Iran, Taiwan’s independence, and competition in artificial intelligence.

Invitation for Putin to the G20

Republicans also questioned Trump’s announcement that he would invite Vladimir Putin, president of the aggressor state the Russian Federation, to the G20 summit in Miami in December. Cornyn said that, in his view, China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea have formed an alliance opposing the United States, and warned of potentially catastrophic consequences.