<p>Fears persist about Trump ‘sucking up’ to Xi on Taiwan, but few concrete outcomes anticipated from US meeting</p><p>When Xi Jinping, China’s leader, touches down in Maryland on Wednesday, he will step out into the arms – <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/14/trump-xi-jinping-strongman-fantasy-china">perhaps a hug</a>, if Donald Trump’s wishes come true – of a US president who has shown China more bonhomie than any of his recent predecessors.</p><p>The meeting between Xi and