Diplomatic standards appeared to slip during the closely watchedmeeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.Tensions reportedly spilled behind the scenes on May 14, with accounts of physical confrontations suggesting a serious breakdown in coordination between the two sides.
A string ofheated moments cast a shadow over the talksin Beijing. US officials and members of the press ran into restrictions that quickly escalated into shouting matches, pushing, and a tense standoff over standard security procedures involving firearms.
The first major incident unfolded when a group of Chinese journalists rushed into the morning bilateral meeting between Trump and Xi. In the scramble to secure better camera angles, a member of the White House advance team was knocked to the ground.
The staffer was subsequently stepped on by the surging press pack. She was bruised and visibly shaken by the sudden ordeal, though she avoided serious injury. This aggressive behaviour promptly elicited loud protests from her American colleagues.
Hostilities escalated during an afternoon visit to the Temple of Heaven. Chinese security officials deliberately blocked a United States Secret Service agent from entering the secure perimeter alongside the presidential press pool.
The Chinese authorities adamantly objected to the agent carrying a firearm. Chinese officials held their ground even though carrying firearms is a routine part of security protocol for US agents. The situation stalled as members of the American press pool and delegation refused to move forward without their full security presence.
Beijing officials remained determined to confiscate his sidearm before granting access. After a 30-minute delay and heated arguments, another cleared Secret Service agent was summoned to escort the reporters inside, while the initial agent stayed behind.
Trump and Xi arrived late for their temple visit after the bilateral meeting ran long. After posing for photos, Chinese authorities placed the American press into a holding room and shut them inside.
When it was time for the president to depart, Chinese personnel refused to allow the US reporters to rejoin the motorcade. Amid repeated cries of 'we have to go', a White House official stated the Trump administration would never treat them this way if the roles were reversed.
Eventually, a White House staffer announced: 'We are going.' This served as the cue for the American contingent to push past the Chinese officials and run out. Local authorities attempted to intercept them with arms outstretched, but the Americans pressed on to reach the convoy.
Source: International Business Times UK
