Trump, Xi Summit to Begin

By Alex Miller

On Background:  On May 14^th & 15^th, 2026, US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are meeting in Beijing for a summit to discuss relationships between the two countries, focused predominantly on trade, in the aftermath of Trump’s 2025 tariff war on America’s third-largest trading partner, paused when the duo last met in October.  Sandwiched between visits to Beijing from Iranian officials and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the meeting agenda will include the wars in Iran and Ukraine, with a likely emphasis on China’s intentions toward Taiwan.  With characteristic understatement, Trump has set the bar high for the talks, stating, “Great things will happen for both Countries!”

The Lede:  The talks commence under an exact union of the Sun and Mercury (both 23 Taurus) which aligns closely with Donald Trump’s natal Midheaven (24 Taurus).  The Sun pulls focus to what it touches, and Mercury governs communication, including the discussions between the leaders, and any agreements, statements or official understandings which may ensue.  Originally scheduled for March, the summit has already been delayed, at Trump’s request, following the onset of the war with Iran, the unsuccessful prosecution of which has eroded Trump’s standing internationally.  With that conflict roiling global energy supplies (including China as a major market for Iran’s oil) and stalemated in an uneasy ceasefire, Trump hopes to revive his reputation, status and place in the world, all concerns of the conjoined natal Midheaven.

In Brief:  Saturn (10 Aries) in semisquare (45 degrees) to the Sun and Mercury symbolizes the exchange of ideas (Mercury) between the two leaders (Saturn), lending an air of gravitas (Saturn) and a focus (Sun) on issues of business (Saturn).  Trump’s (1) and Xi’s (2) natal Suns (at 22 and 24 Gemini respectively) are both conjoined by Venus (24 Gemini), perhaps smoothing the path to diplomacy and contributing an impetus toward fairness in partnership.  But the Sun/Mercury conjunction is moving into celestial airspace currently dominated by Uranus (1 Gemini), so expect some shocks and surprises, perhaps controversy, and the possibility of volatile outbursts cannot be discounted.  As well, Mars (26 Aries) squared (90 degrees) Jupiter (20 Cancer) suggests a degree of conflict or argument (Mars) in these foreign relations (Jupiter), potential verbal fireworks in the land that invented them.

Deep Dive:  The Sun/Mercury conjunction is joined exactly by asteroid Xi’an (also 23 Taurus, closest surname to Xi), placing the focus (Sun) of the talks squarely on Xi, as host of the discussions (Mercury).  This remarkable triple conjunction forms two major patterns, a Grand Cross (3) and a Grand Trine Kite (4).  In both instances, the primary factor is an opposition (180 degrees) to asteroid Taipei (29 Scorpio), named for the capital of Taiwan, underscoring the importance of that thorny issue to the talks.

In the case of the Grand Cross, the sidebar squares come from asteroids Peking (28 Aquarius), the antique, westernized spelling of Beijing, and America (20 Leo), further identifying the principals as the US (America) and China (Peking).  For the Grand Trine Kite, Taipei forms the String of the pattern, the element that guides its course, with the base points of the Grand Trine formed by trines (120 degrees) to asteroids China (26 Virgo) and Nemesis (22 Capricorn). 

Both bodies are at station (5), a pivotal period in their orbits which grants increased power and relevance, marking a vital turning point.  China of course represents the host country, while Nemesis refers to an opponent, competitor or enemy, here referencing Communist China’s inimical stance on Taiwan, which they wish to absorb, as well as the fraught relationship between the US and China, major competitors on the world stage.  China made its direct station on the 10^th, four days before the conference; Nemesis will turn retrograde on the 20^th, five days after.

Taiwan’s prominence in the talks is also signaled by asteroid Taiwan (4 Leo), conjoined asteroids Donn (2 Leo) and Washingtonia (9 Leo), opposed Pluto (5 Aquarius) with asteroid Whitehouse (3 Aquarius).  This puts the fate of the island nation (Taiwan) very much top-of-mind for both Trump (Donn) and the US government (Washingtonia), who would appear to be united (conjunction) in purpose, but for the opposition to Whitehouse with Pluto, which suggests that the US President (Whitehouse) has a different, hidden agenda (Pluto), rooted in personal power and the acquisition of vast wealth (both Pluto).  It portrays a head-of-state (Whitehouse) potentially at odds with (opposition) his government (Washingtonia).

Taiwan’s primacy for both men can be seen in the placement of relevant asteroids in their birth charts.  For Xi, a T-Square from the Sun (24 Gemini) opposed Taiwan (20 Sagittarius), with Taipei (29 Virgo) on its fulcrum, depicts a strong personal identification (Sun) with the former Chinese province, which he sees as an enemy (opposition to Taiwan) and source of stress (square to Taipei).  Trump may be more inclined to see Taiwan’s side of the impasse, with his Sun (22 Gemini) conjoined both Taiwan (23 Gemini) and Taipei (26 Gemini), and his Moon (21 Sagittarius) opposing them, also making the issue a very personal one for him, but perhaps viewing them sympathetically, as an ally.  A square from the Sun to natal asteroid Xi’an (27 Pisces) suggests tension between them, and working at cross-purposes.

Notes:  (1) Donald Trump; born 14 June 1946, 10:54 AM EDT, Queens, New York (Rodden Rating AA)

(2) Xi Jinping; born 15 June 1953, no time available

(3) A Grand Cross is a major pattern comprised of four or more points at roughly 90 degrees equidistant from each other; this dynamic interaction can create stress, but also prompts action and motivates growth.

(4) A Kite is special type of Grand Trine, with one or more points opposing one of the three primary Grand Trine points.  The point in opposition is termed the “String,” and guides the operation and manifestation of the Kite itself.

(5) Stations are periods when, from our perspective on Earth, a planet appears to slow its movement, come to a standstill, and reverse course.  This is an optical illusion created by the triangulation between the sun, Earth, and any third celestial body; astrologically, it represents a focusing of the energies associated with that point, and often coincides with major life events or a radical recalibration of how that point has functioned previously.

Sources:  reporting from CBNC; chart data from serennu.com; graphic images by author

Title Image Credit:  drawn by Chat GPT