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US-China Relations

Another Incident of Beijing-Organized Supporters Clashed with Protesters During Xi’s Visit to the U.S.

Xi Jinping’s visit to the United States drew demonstrations by at least 39 anti-CCP groups. Chinese authorities reportedly organized large numbers of supporters—one source estimated nearly 1,000—to welcome Xi. Supporters and protesters clashed outside Joint Base Andrews during Xi’s arrival (see Chinascope briefing).

Another altercation occurred around 3:30 p.m. on September 24 outside the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency headquarters on Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C., where Falun Gong practitioners were peacefully demonstrating. A woman identified as Li Huahong confronted practitioner Xin Qin, who was photographing the demonstration. Xin said Li repeatedly pressured him to move back before grabbing and pulling him down, after which several people accompanying Li allegedly struck, scratched, and bit him. Xin said he did not fight back and called police. A police officer reportedly witnessed the incident and intervened, handcuffing Li, who was later taken away by ambulance.

According to the report, Li had previously attacked Falun Gong practitioners in New York and had been arrested several times. She was convicted of assault in 2013.

Also, an earlier incident occurred on September 22 outside the Chinese Consulate in Toronto, Canada, where a Chinese-Canadian man allegedly damaged Falun Gong protesters’ display boards and banners, issued threats, and injured a practitioner who tried to protect a banner. Police reportedly arrived, documented the incident, and said the case could proceed to legal action.

Sources:
{1} NTDTV, September 25, 2026
https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2026/09/25/a104136302.html
{2} NTDTV, September 26, 2026
https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2026/09/26/a104136553.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics US-China Relations

Trump and Xi Discussed U.S.-China WWII Alliance, Prompting Concern in Japan

During a September 24 welcoming ceremony for Chinese President Xi Jinping, U.S. President Donald Trump recalled that China and the United States were allies during World War II, highlighting the American volunteer pilots known as the Flying Tigers. He expressed hope that the two countries could build on their wartime cooperation to create a better future. At a state dinner that evening, Xi echoed the historical theme, recalling how Chinese and American forces fought against Japanese militarism, established the Hump air route, and rescued American pilots during the war.

Trump’s remarks reportedly surprised some Japanese government officials and received extensive coverage in Japanese media. On September 26, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held a roughly 20-minute telephone call with Trump, who briefed her on his meeting with Xi. Takaichi emphasized that Japan and the United States had become each other’s “most trusted allies.” The two leaders exchanged views on China-related economic and security issues and reaffirmed bilateral cooperation and their shared commitment to regional and global peace and stability.

Sources:
{1} Radio France International, September 25, 2026
https://www.rfi.fr/cn/国际/20260925-特朗普称中国为-盟国-震惊日本
{2} Kyodo News, September 26, 2026
https://china.kyodonews.net/articles/-/16131

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend US-China Relations

Beijing-Organized Xi Supporters Clashed with Protesters Outside Andrews Airport as Xi Arrives in Washington

On September 23, clashes reportedly broke out outside Joint Base Andrews near Washington, D.C., between groups organized to welcome Xi Jinping and democracy activists and other protesters. Protesters carried banners calling for Hong Kong’s “liberation” and Xi’s resignation, while a large group of Xi supporters arrived on buses. According to China Democracy Party member Yang Lei, the groups initially remained separate, but a confrontation began after some Xi supporters entered the protesters’ area, allegedly attempted to take their materials, and attacked them with flagpoles. Protesters called police, who arrived shortly afterward.

Yang said the Xi supporters shouted that “Falun Gong hit people,” although he said no Falun Gong practitioners were present and the protesters involved were members of the China Democracy Party. He characterized the accusation as an attempt to blame Falun Gong for the confrontation.

After the clash, protesters reportedly obtained identification badges from Xi supporters representing two organizations: the United Chinese Community Organizations of the United States (美国侨学界社团联席会) and the America-China Enterprise Chamber of Commerce (美中企业总商会).

Also on September 23, former China Democracy Party chairman Wang Xizhe filed a civil lawsuit against Xi Jinping in a California federal court, alleging responsibility for an alleged attack on democracy activists outside the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles on January 4. The lawsuit claims consulate-hired security personnel used pepper spray against peaceful protesters, causing physical and psychological injuries, and seeks damages from Xi. The court accepted the case and issued a summons requiring a response within 21 days.

Sources:
{1} The Epoch Times Chinese, September 24, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/9/24/n14856206.htm
{2} The Epoch Times Chinese, September 24, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/9/24/n14856489.htm
{3} The Epoch Times Chinese, September 24, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/9/24/n14856800.htm

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Chinese Embassy Reportedly Mobilizing Xi Welcome in Washington; DOJ Reminds Public of Foreign-Agent Registration

Chinese-language social media posts and WeChat screenshots circulating among overseas Chinese communities reportedly show organized efforts to mobilize Chinese Americans to Washington, D.C., for activities welcoming Xi Jinping during his expected visit to the United States from September 23 to 25.

One organizer, identified as “Sister Xia” and registered on WeChat in Alhambra, California, said she had recruited many participants. She said the Chinese Embassy and business associations were providing funding. Other circulating recruitment messages reportedly offered free airfare or bus transportation, lodging, meals, and an $80 participation payment, with one message seeking participants under age 70 for a “flag-waving welcome” event.

These organized welcome groups can create the appearance of a “mass welcome.” They may also serve a “counteraction” function: when the Chinese leader’s motorcade passes by, participants may use large numbers of red flags, human walls, and loudspeakers to obscure protesters’ signs and chants, ensuring that the leader “does not see” opposing voices. Many netizens have questioned whether participants in such activities are effectively “paid actors,” and characterized the activities as part of Beijing’s overseas propaganda and United Front efforts.

Participants in such activities could potentially be subject to foreign-agent registration requirements if they act in the United States at the direction or control of a Chinese government entity or other foreign principal.

On September 16, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice published a press release titled “Liability for Unregistered Foreign Agents” to remind the public that federal laws require individuals “to register as foreign agents when they act in the United States at the direction or control of a foreign government or foreign principal.” It explains, “If a person acts as an agent of any foreign power to carry out any public activity, including (but not limited to) public demonstrations designed to further the propaganda or other goals of the foreign power, he or she must register with or notify the appropriate federal authorities. Failure to do so may result in significant civil or criminal sanctions, up to and including a maximum of five years in prison.”

Sources:
{1} Epoch Times, September 8, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/9/8/n14844612.htm
{2} Epoch Times, September 18, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/9/18/n14851493.htm
{3} US DOJ website, September 16, 2026
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/liability-unregistered-foreign-agents

Briefings | | |   @CS US-China Relations

Xi Jinping’s U.S. Visit: A Display of Political Power Ahead of the 21st Party Congress

Xi Jinping is expected to visit the United States from September 23 to 25 and meet with President Trump on September 24, roughly one year before the 21st National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Chinese political observers say Beijing hopes the summit will help stabilize economic and business expectations, while Xi could use the high-profile diplomatic engagement to demonstrate his control over foreign policy and upcoming personnel arrangements within the Party.

Xi’s visit comes as attention focuses on whether he will continue as CCP General Secretary and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, potentially entering a fourth term. Beijing has not announced any such arrangements or publicly discussed a potential successor.

A Chinese political scholar said official-media coverage of a Xi-Trump meeting at the White House could reinforce Xi’s image as the leader directing China’s major-power diplomacy. A military affairs scholar said Xi’s overseas visit, amid continuing changes in the PLA leadership, could serve as a domestic display of his political influence and control over the military command system.

Chinese state media have already established a favorable narrative around Xi’s summit diplomacy. People’s Daily described head-of-state diplomacy in May as the “compass” and “rudder” of China-U.S. relations, saying Xi and Trump had helped “calibrate the trajectory” of bilateral ties at a critical moment. Beijing has also promoted the concept of building a “constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability.”

Source: Radio Free Asia, September 9, 2026
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/zhengzhi/waijiao/2026/09/09/china-xi-jinpings-visit-to-the-us-trump-21st-national-congress-of-the-cpc/

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics US-China Relations

U.S. Cracks Down on Chinese-Language Scam and Money-Laundering Marketplace

On September 9, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Scam Center Strike Force (SCSF) announced enforcement actions against Xinbi Guarantee, a Chinese-language illicit marketplace operating on Telegram. According to the Justice Department, the platform connected scam-center operators with vendors offering services such as creating fraudulent investment websites, laundering proceeds from telecommunications fraud, and recruiting trafficking victims to work in Southeast Asian scam compounds. Xinbi Guarantee also provided an escrow service to facilitate transactions between scammers and service providers.

A federal court authorized the seizure of the Telegram channels on September 7. In a coordinated operation, U.S. authorities froze approximately $52 million in cryptocurrency linked to money laundering and scam activity, bringing the SCSF’s cumulative cryptocurrency seizures to about $938 million.

The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also sanctioned Xinbi Guarantee and identified multiple cryptocurrency wallets associated with the platform. OFAC additionally sanctioned two entities accused of supporting Xinbi’s operations. Treasury said Xinbi had processed more than $24 billion in digital assets and fiat currency since around 2022, underscoring the financial infrastructure supporting large-scale scam operations.

Source: Epoch Times, September 10, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/9/9/n14845849.htm

Hot Topics | | |   Economy/Resources US-China Relations

China Threatens Retaliation Over U.S. Accusations of “Industrial-Scale” AI Distillation

Ahead of the upcoming Trump-Xi summit, where artificial intelligence is expected to be a key topic, China’s state-run People’s Daily published a commentary today pushing back against recent U.S. accusations that Chinese AI firms are engaged in “industrial-scale” distillation of American AI models.

The article, written under the byline “Zhong Sheng (钟声)” — a pseudonym for “China’s Voice,” frequently used by the paper for authoritative statements reflecting the Chinese government’s position — claims that a joint warning issued by the U.S. National Security Agency, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the FBI has no legal basis. It argues that distillation is a standard practice used by AI companies worldwide, including American firms, and characterizes the U.S. crackdown as disguised protectionism rather than a genuine security concern. The commentary accuses Washington of applying a double standard — treating the same technique as routine when used by U.S. firms but as an “attack” when used by Chinese firms — and warns that Beijing will retaliate if its companies’ legitimate interests are harmed.

The U.S. agencies had alleged that Chinese firms including DeepSeek, Moonshot AI, Alibaba, MiniMax, and StepFun used variants of American AI models to train their own products, likely with the Chinese government’s knowledge, and described the activity as aggressive and malicious.

Distillation refers to using outputs from large, costly AI models to train smaller ones more cheaply. The dispute comes as the two countries prepare for a second Trump-Xi summit in Washington on the 24th, with AI expected to be a major topic; Reuters has reported the two sides plan a separate dialogue on AI safety risks in mid-September.

Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), September 16, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202609160111.aspx

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

China’s Foreign Ministry: Spreading Narratives Portraying AI as a Threat Serves No Party’s Interests

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on September 14 that spreading narratives portraying AI as a threat does not serve the interests of any party.

A reporter asked: Not long ago, Dario Amodei, Sam Altman, Elon Musk, and others called on artificial intelligence companies to slow down the development of frontier technologies. Amodei said that China’s continued lead in artificial intelligence would pose a risk to U.S. national security. What is the Foreign Ministry’s comment on this?

“AI development concerns the common well-being of all humanity. All parties should work together to promote AI that is open, inclusive, beneficial to all, and used for good. Spreading various narratives about threats, engaging in confrontation and vicious competition, will only disrupt the global AI governance process and serve no party’s interests,” Guo said.

{Editor’s Note: This statement could suggest that China does not intend to slow its development of frontier AI technologies even if the United States chooses to do so.}

Source: Xinhua, September 14, 2026
https://www.news.cn/world/20260914/a3d886e5ebeb4307af30bf71df511550/c.html

Briefings | | |   @CS Information/Technology US-China Relations