China News: September 21–23, 2026

Xi Heads to Washington

Xi Jinping began a three-day state visit to the United States on September 23, at the invitation of President Trump, with the main talks scheduled for September 24 at the White House. This marks his first trip to Washington in 11 years. According to the Wall Street Journal, Beijing and Washington spent several weeks disputing the format of the trip, and in the end the White House backed down, agreeing to a visit with maximum diplomatic honors rather than a working meeting.

Here is how I see it: the fact that Beijing pushed through its preferred status matters more than the substance of the talks. China has shown it is willing to bargain even over protocol details, and in that sense it has already scored a symbolic victory before any substantive dialogue begins on extending the trade truce, which expires on November 10.

Military Purge Coincides With Xi's Absence From BRICS Dinner

Two senior generals, including Zhang Youxia, former deputy chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Liu Zhenli, chief of the Joint Staff Department, were expelled from the Communist Party and removed from their posts. At the same time, at the BRICS summit in India, Xi Jinping skipped a dinner with Putin, fueling rumors about his health.

To me, this represents two worrying signals at once. A purge at the top of the military leadership typically points to internal political struggle or fear of disloyalty at a moment of heightened tension over Taiwan, while a skipped protocol dinner with a key ally deepens the uncertainty surrounding the stability of China's own leadership.

Britain and Canada Edge Toward a Joint War Chest, and NATO's Transatlantic Bargain Starts to Crack

23 September, 2026

Russian Oil Imports Surge as Saudi Purchases Collapse

According to Chinese customs data, China increased its oil purchases from Russia by 41% in August, while imports from Saudi Arabia fell by nearly half. At the same time, Beijing expanded export controls on chemical precursors bound for the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

What I see here is a clear reorientation of energy flows toward Russian oil, precisely against the backdrop of rapprochement ahead of the Washington summit. In other words, Beijing is building an economic cushion in the form of a cheaper and more predictable supplier, while simultaneously tightening the screws on chemical exports that could be used as a lever of pressure in negotiations with the United States.