China has reportedly warned the United States that 
Xi Jinping could call off his planned visit to Washington later this month if new arms sales to Taiwan are approved before the summit. The warning came in a Sept. 12 Kyodo News report citing multiple sources familiar with US-China relations, the Liberty Times reported. The same report, in a detail carried by PTS, said Beijing had restated to Washington that Taiwan is a red line in bilateral relations.
When will the leaders meet? The meeting is scheduled for Sept. 24 in the United States, following the two leaders' summit in May. 
Donald Trump is to host a state banquet for Xi that day, the Liberty Times reported, and the Kyodo report described Trump as apparently eager to showcase diplomatic achievements before November's midterm elections. The invitation was extended, the Taipei Times reported, when Trump visited China in May.
How did the US president respond? Trump said he was not worried about a cancellation, telling reporters at the Irish Open in Doonbeg, in western Ireland, on Sept. 13 that the two leaders had a very good relationship and that both sides wanted to get along, CNA reported, citing Bloomberg. Trump has said he is considering a US$14 billion arms sale to Taiwan, while Xi has warned him that mishandling the Taiwan issue could lead to conflict. Trump has also said he held extensive discussions on Taiwan with Xi at their May summit, and told Fox News he hoped Beijing would calm down on the issue.
What else is on the table? The leaders are seeking to manage tensions over Taiwan, trade, artificial intelligence and the Middle East, and new rifts have opened over the Iran war, CNA reported. China, a major buyer of Iranian oil, has not answered Trump's calls to cut economic ties with Tehran. A trade truce between the two countries expires on Nov. 10.
How did Taiwan respond? Huang Chung-yen, an adviser to Taiwan's National Security Council, said recent Chinese diplomatic and military moves were aimed at creating pressure ahead of the meeting, the Taipei Times reported. Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Minister Shen You-chung said on Sept. 14, in remarks reported by the Liberty Times, that Xi would keep using the summit to wage cognitive warfare against the United States, and that Beijing may keep pressing for US concessions in the Indo-Pacific even with the venue moved to Washington. Beijing, Shen said, hopes there will never be arms sales to Taiwan.
Figures referenced: Xi Jinping, Donald Trump. — JudgeMarket.
