Xi Jinping Arrives in Washington for 3-Day State Visit as Taiwan Watches Fate of Paused $14B Arms Package

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Washington September 23, 2026 for a three-day state visit — his first to the White House in more than a decade — with formal talks and a state dinner set for September 24. Taiwan's government said it would 'continue to maintain close contact with the U.S. Department of War and continue to push forward the arms procurement deal between Taiwan and the U.S., ensuring it proceeds as planned,' according to Defense Ministry spokesperson Maj. Gen. Chiao Fu-chun, even as the $14 billion package remained paused since Trump and Xi's May Beijing meeting. US Sen. Pete Ricketts said Washington needed 'to continue just to again let them know that they're not going to be allowed to take Taiwan by force,' while former Trump deputy national security adviser Matt Pottinger predicted Xi would 'lecture at length' on Taiwan without any substantive outcome. A protester was photographed scaling a light pole near the White House to unfurl a banner opposing Xi's visit.