Opinion

MORNING GLORY: Will Xi free Lai?

Will President Trump ask? What’s in it for the Chinese Communist dictator?

By Hugh Hewitt Fox News

Published May 12, 2026 5:00am EDT

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Trump-Xi China summit: Taiwan reportedly fears 'off-script' policy shift amid military buildup

Trump-Xi China summit: Taiwan reportedly fears 'off-script' policy shift amid military buildup

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General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Xi Jinping is as known a quantity as is possible for a totalitarian dictator to be known.

Xi is the absolute ruler of the second most powerful nation state in the world. As the dictator-for-life of the nearest nation to the United States in terms of economic and military power, Xi has repeatedly demonstrated in ways large and small that his control of everything and everyone in the People’s Republic of China is complete.

When he sits down opposite of President Donald Trump in the days ahead, Xi will be facing the only person on the planet with more power at his disposal than Xi himself wields, and will do so with the knowledge that President Trump’s time in that position is limited to less than three years while Xi’s is limited only by his own lifespan.

WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY: RELEASE MY FATHER JIMMY LAI, WHO PUBLISHED WHAT CHINA'S LEADERS DID NOT WANT TO HEAR

It is highly likely that a less formidable opponent to Xi will take over the United States government in January, 2029. So why would Xi do anything at all next week that would signal anything other than stubborn strength during........

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