Republican China Committee Chair Urges Trump to Take Tougher Line With Xi Ahead of Washington Summit

September 21, 2026 — Rep. John Moolenaar is pressing President Donald Trump to prioritize technology security, Taiwan, Iran and detained Americans when he meets Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington.

Republican Rep. John Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on China, urged President Donald Trump to adopt a tougher approach toward Chinese leader Xi Jinping ahead of their Washington summit next week.

In a September 18 letter, Moolenaar warned against treating tensions with Beijing primarily as a trade dispute, arguing that national-security concerns involving technology, Taiwan, Iran and detained Americans should remain central.

One of his sharpest demands concerned reports that Chinese entities provided targeting assistance connected to Iranian attacks that killed U.S. service members, an allegation Moolenaar described as a major escalation requiring consequences.

Trump earlier brushed aside a related report that Iran obtained satellite imagery from Chinese entities before a deadly July attack in Jordan, saying that both China and the United States conduct espionage.

Moolenaar also pressed the administration to strengthen restrictions preventing Chinese access to advanced American artificial-intelligence systems, cloud-computing pathways and semiconductor-manufacturing technology from the United States and allied countries.

His committee argued that China is seeking technological independence while still attempting to obtain advanced American capabilities, and urged tighter controls designed to slow Chinese progress in high-end artificial intelligence.

The letter also called for continued restrictions involving Chinese automakers and connected vehicles, reflecting broader congressional concerns that foreign-linked digital systems could create security, data and critical-infrastructure vulnerabilities inside the United States.

Taiwan was another major focus, with Moolenaar urging Trump to reject Chinese objections to U.S. arms sales and security cooperation with partners across the Indo-Pacific rather than treating those commitments as bargaining material.

U.S. policy toward Taiwan remains governed by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three U.S.-China joint communiqués and the Six Assurances, while Washington maintains unofficial ties and supports Taiwan’s self-defense capability.

Concerns intensified after Trump said Xi repeatedly raised Taiwan during their May meeting in Beijing and later described a pending U.S. arms package worth up to $14 billion as a negotiating chip.

Reuters reported that some officials and lawmakers in Asia worry Washington could soften its language on Taiwan in exchange for economic concessions, a possibility that would attract close scrutiny in Congress.

People familiar with Beijing’s diplomatic efforts told Reuters that China would like Washington to say it opposes Taiwan independence, rather than using the longstanding U.S. formulation that it does not support independence.

Moolenaar additionally urged continued pressure over Americans detained in China, describing the issue as coercive diplomacy, while a separate bipartisan congressional resolution has called for the release of wrongfully detained U.S. citizens.

The debate comes days before Xi’s planned September 24 state visit to Washington, where the Chinese leader and Trump are expected to discuss trade, technology, Taiwan and broader strategic relations.

The meeting follows Trump’s May visit to Beijing, where both governments said the leaders agreed to pursue what they called a constructive relationship of strategic stability while managing persistent disagreements.

Their latest diplomacy also builds on the October 2025 Busan summit, after which Trump announced agreements involving tariffs, agricultural purchases, rare-earth supplies and Chinese cooperation against illicit fentanyl trafficking.

Trade will remain important, but Moolenaar’s letter reflects a congressional argument that economic agreements should not overshadow military security, technology controls, human-rights concerns or questions about China’s relationships with U.S. adversaries.

Beijing has presented a different emphasis, saying relations should be guided by equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit, while differences should be managed without allowing strategic competition to become uncontrolled confrontation.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Secretary of State Marco Rubio on September 17 that both governments should prepare carefully for high-level exchanges and respect what each side considers core interests.

The summit will therefore test whether Trump and Xi can stabilize economic ties without deepening disputes over advanced technology, Taiwan and regional security, while Congress continues pressing the administration against major concessions.