China Nervous About Shenzhen Summit? Xi Pushing For Scripted Show With Trump And Putin, Says Report

China reportedly wants a tightly scripted trilateral meeting between President Xi Jinping, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, raising questions over whether the proposed historic summit will deliver meaningful diplomatic outcomes.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Beijing wants the three leaders to deliver prepared statements under an agreed agenda, leaving little room for spontaneous discussions. Washington, however, wants direct exchanges, particularly on nuclear arms control. The disagreement threatens the proposed meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen on November 18-19.

China has reportedly told counterparts that Xi would prefer separate bilateral meetings if an agreed agenda and predetermined format cannot be established. People familiar with Beijing's thinking told the Journal that Xi wants the photographs and diplomatic visibility of a historic gathering without the unpredictability of unscripted discussions.

The proposed agenda has also reportedly evolved. A November 11 report by the South China Morning Post revealed that China, Russia and the US have been discussing a possible commitment to control the use of artificial intelligence in nuclear command and control systems. Ukraine and denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula have reportedly fallen off the proposed agenda as the three powers search for common ground.

Washington also wants China included in future nuclear arms-control negotiations. However, Beijing has resisted trilateral discussions, arguing that its nuclear arsenal remains considerably smaller than those of the US and Russia. The last major US-Russia nuclear arms treaty, New START, expired in February without a replacement.

Putin proposed the trilateral summit last month, reportedly hoping to advance a Ukraine settlement favourable to Moscow with Trump's support and China's backing. The proposed gathering also carries diplomatic risks for Beijing. Allowing Washington and Moscow to discuss Ukraine without European participation could further strain China's relationship with European capitals and complicate its economic interests.

Meanwhile, Trump said on November 8 that he expected to meet Xi and Putin in China, adding that discussions could also cover efforts to end the Iran war and denuclearisation.

With the US-China trade truce due to expire in January, economic tensions remain another major concern. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called for a more balanced economic relationship ahead of Trump's expected meeting with Xi.

Although Beijing has confirmed discussions are underway, the summit's format and agenda remain unresolved.