Senator Roger Wicker, Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, attacked 
Xi Jinping in a Senate floor speech on Tuesday, ahead of the Chinese leader's summit with President 
Donald Trump in Washington. Had the White House asked for his "advice," Wicker said in remarks carried by The Hill, he would have advised Trump to "not invite Xi Jinping to Washington." The speech came hours before Xi was due to arrive in the U.S. capital for a three-day visit, during which Trump is scheduled to host him and his wife at a White House state dinner on Sept. 24 and hold a summit, CNA reported, citing Politico.
What did Wicker say about Xi? In a speech that CNA reported aimed most of its fire at Xi and China policy, Wicker, a loyal Republican and firm backer of Trump, still delivered an unexpectedly sharp rebuke of the president's move toward Beijing, amid widespread concern over whether Washington will keep its Indo-Pacific security commitments and deter China from attacking Taiwan. He criticised the White House for laying on a lavish welcome, calling Xi a brutal, unelected and repressive dictator who is entirely untrustworthy. He said he knew the president was inclined to discuss trade and artificial intelligence with the Chinese leader, which was reasonable, and that there might be some progress. Throughout every minute of the talks, however, the commander in chief should remember that his guest seeks to dominate his neighbours and has a large arsenal aimed directly at the United States, Wicker said.
What does he want raised? Wicker urged Trump to press Beijing on a series of sensitive issues, including its alleged support for Iran, its military expansion and human rights abuses. He said his advice would also have been against granting such grand honours, because too many deeply troubling issues remain with Xi and the Chinese Communist Party.
Who else has criticised the visit? Xi's state visit has drawn criticism from both parties, with Democratic Senator Dick Durbin and Republican Senator Ted Budd making similar attacks on China's leadership before Wicker spoke, CNA reported. Budd said President Trump had made clear that, under his leadership and given the economic and trade realities between the two countries, the United States must engage with China. But it must not be forgotten that China is also an adversary and rival, Budd said.
Figures referenced: Xi Jinping, Donald Trump. — JudgeMarket.
