Potential Taiwan tension sparked 'last minute' change in Trump-Xi National Archives visit
A planned display at the National Archives featuring historical documents was canceled due to Chinese objections regarding the 1951 Treaty of San Francisco. Beijing reportedly took issue with the treaty because it does not explicitly recognize Taiwan as part of China and excludes China as a signatory.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the ongoing diplomatic sensitivity surrounding Taiwan's political status and the challenges of managing historical narratives in high-level U.S.-China relations.
On Friday, the National Archives Museum prepared to welcome President Trump and the Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Inside the museum's main foyer, a long table had been set up in the center of the room that morning, with a temporary display resting on the black tablecloth showcasing a brick from the Great Wall of China and an elaborate 19th century scroll sent by a Qing emperor.
But the entire display was removed, due to a "last minute" change in the event, according to a Chinese diplomat granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
The sudden change was precipitated because of Chinese displeasure over one document that the U.S. had planned to show: the Treaty of San Francisco of 1951, according to the diplomat and two other people familiar with the matter granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
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