Xi maintains composure during US military flyover for historic tarmac welcome

At Joint Base Andrews where Donald Trump rolled out the red carpet for the visiting Chinese president, Xi Jinping appeared unfazed during a ceremonial flyover by a screeching US bomber while the US president visibly winced at the noise.
As Xi arrived at the military base just outside Washington on Thursday, he was greeted with a ceremony that included the US Air Force band playing the American and Chinese national anthems, a 21-gun salute, a guard of honour, a display of six F-16 and six F-22 fighter jets, and a flyover by two B-1 Lancer bombers.

Footage showed that near the end of the US national anthem, reacting to the roaring sound of the B-1 flyover, Trump, who was saluting, ducked, gritted his teeth, turned his head to look at the aircraft, and lowered his salute in front of reporters and cameramen.
In contrast, Xi’s gaze followed the bomber to the right as it flew by, revealing minimal physical reaction.
Afterwards, Trump could be seen in the video saying to Xi, “That was really loud”.
Video of their different reactions circulated widely on both Chinese and US social media.
It is a rarity for any world leader to be greeted by the US president at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. Trump’s reception for Xi was the first presidential welcome for a foreign leader, excluding popes, at Joint Base Andrews since 1962 when John F. Kennedy welcomed British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, according to Fox News.

The last time Trump greeted a world leader at an airport was when he met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the tarmac at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, for their summit in August last year.
Then, as Trump and Putin walked the red carpet next to each other, four F-35 fighters and one B-2 bomber flew overhead. Putin turned his head to the sound of the warplanes three times while Trump barely reacted.
Amid domestic criticism of Xi’s grand reception, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the welcome ceremony, saying “the relationship between the United States and China will define the 21st century”.
He also said “the United States and China are probably the two most powerful militaries in the world” and that China had “the second-largest economy in the world and a pretty substantial military that’s undergoing the most rapid military build-up, probably in history”.

Reaction by China’s leadership to US military equipment is often viewed in China as a symbol of the military capacity gap between the two. A famous 1980 photo showing Admiral Liu Huaqing standing on tiptoe to observe weapons when shown around a US aircraft carrier for the first time is referred to as demonstrating the immense gap between the two militaries at the time.
China has undergone what US defence chief Pete Hegseth described as a “rapid, formidable and holistic” military build-up in recent years as the People’s Liberation Army modernises.
In just a few years, China has narrowed the military technology gap with the US in a number of areas and in some technologies – such as satellite refuelling and hypersonic missiles – it has even taken the lead.
Trump and Xi are expected to hold talks on trade, technology and geopolitical issues on Thursday, followed by a state dinner. The three-day visit will conclude on Friday with tea at the White House and a visit to the National Archives.

Just days before Xi’s US visit, China’s sixth-generation fighter J-36 was seen conducting the latest round of flight tests, according to social media footage circulated online, which the South China Morning Post could not independently verify.
Beijing released the first footage of its sixth-generation fighter prototype in action in June. While the US’ sixth-generation fighter programme faces challenges, some argue Beijing is ahead in the race.