Chinese leader Xi Jinping recently met with US President Donald Trump for talks in Beijing. Xi added that he was “happy” to receive Trump for the US leader’s first trip to China since 2017. Though both the leaders seemed very excited about having a “fantastic future together”, something unusual happened before the US delegation accompanying Trump boarded Air Force One.
US staff and press members reportedly discarded materials and gifts given by the Chinese officials before boarding the plane on Friday. The materials included gifts, staff burner phones, credential badges, and lapel pins issued by China.
Reports said that the materials were dumped into a bin placed near the aircraft stairs shortly before departure from Beijing Capital Airport.
The US delegation’s gesture highlights the deep mistrust that continues between the nations.
The White House correspondent for the New York Post wrote in a post on X, “Nothing from China allowed on the plane.”
“The directive was absolute; no item of Chinese origin was permitted to board the aircraft. The precautions extended beyond the departure itself. Delegation members had left all personal electronic devices at home before travelling to China and operated exclusively on clean burner phones throughout the duration of the trip,” a post on X read, quoting the NYP reporter.
In order to prevent potential spying or data compromise, officials routinely destroy or surrender electronic devices and sensitive materials.
The move shows Washington’s longstanding concerns over Beijing’s cyber surveillance capabilities and fears that electronic devices or even souvenirs could potentially be used for intelligence gathering or tracking purposes.
Trump was on a two-day state visit in Beijing aimed at strengthening ties between the US and China.
During a visit by Trump and Xi to Beijing’s Temple of Heaven, a US Secret Service agent accompanying him was denied entry as he was carrying a firearm as part of the standard safety protocol. According to reports, there was a disagreement over this, which resulted in a 90-minute delay before the media was finally allowed into the venue.
Xi-Trump meet: Why the US delegation dumped all Chinese gifts before boarding Air Force One
