BEIJING (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for his highly anticipated talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the Iran war, trade and U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.

The core of the summit kicks off Thursday when the two leaders conduct bilateral talks, visit the Temple of Heaven—where ancient Chinese emperors once prayed for abundant harvests—and attend a formal state banquet. China rolled out the red carpet for Trump's arrival, literally and figuratively, as Air Force One touched down in the Chinese capital.

Trump was welcomed by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue, China's Washington ambassador Xie Feng, and executive vice foreign minister Ma Zhaoxu. The welcoming ceremony featured a military honor guard, brass band, and roughly 300 Chinese youth dressed in white and robin's egg blue—matching Air Force One's colors—waving flags and chanting welcome greetings as the president made his way to his motorcade.

"We're the two superpowers," Trump told reporters before departing Washington. "We're the strongest nation on Earth militarily. China's considered second."

The visit comes at a sensitive moment for Trump's presidency, with his domestic approval ratings weighed down by the ongoing U.S.-Israel war with Iran and inflation tied to the conflict. Trump is eyeing a diplomatic win by securing Chinese commitments to purchase more American soybeans, beef and aircraft, with trade as his primary focus.

The administration hopes to establish a Board of Trade with China to resolve bilateral differences and prevent a repeat of last year's trade tensions triggered by Trump's tariff increases. China responded with restrictions on rare earth minerals, though the two countries agreed to a one-year ceasefire last October.

Yet the Iran conflict remains front and center on Trump's domestic agenda. The war has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, tranding oil and gas tankers and sending energy prices soaring—a spike that threatens global economic stability. Trump downplayed expectations that Iran would be a significant discussion point with Xi.

"We have plenty to discuss, but Iran isn't really one of them, to be honest," Trump told reporters Tuesday. "We have Iran very much under control."

Taiwan's status looms large on the agenda, with China expressing displeasure over U.S. arms sales to the self-governing island.

A ruthless creditor, unable to collect 100,000 baht from a debtor's daughter, turned violent when he discovered the promised land collateral had already been seized by another creditor. In his rage, he wielded an axe against the mother instead, fatally wounding her.

On May 13, 2025, Deputy Superintendent Katawaong of Buuntharik Police Station received a report of a murder. An elderly woman had been killed along a roadside near Khao Saeng Thong Charoen temple in Buuntharik district, Ubon Ratchathani province. A team including investigative officers, on-call physicians, and rescue workers responded to find 74-year-old Sangwian lying in a pool of blood beside a white and blue Honda Wave motorcycle, wearing a white and black floral shirt and brown sarong. An autopsy revealed two deep axe wounds to her neck that severed major blood vessels, with death occurring approximately 1-2 hours prior.

Witness Porn (pseudonym), 70, a neighbor who had ridden with the victim, described a terrifying encounter. After making merit offerings at a temple that morning, 52-year-old Sakkri, a neighbor from the same village who was tending buffalo nearby, stepped into the road and confronted the victim about a 100,000 baht debt owed by her daughter Lammul. When Sangwian explained that the land she had promised as collateral had already been seized by another creditor, Sakkri became enraged. He drew an axe he had with him and struck her in the neck, causing her to fall. He then delivered a second, fatal blow to the same area before fleeing.

The witness escaped to alert authorities and neighbors, but Sangwian died before help could arrive. Police tracked down Sakkri at his residence, where he confessed and revealed he had hidden the axe in a water basin 30 meters from the scene.

Sakkri admitted under questioning that since 2567, he had loaned Lammul a total of 100,000 baht with an agreement to collateralize 2 rai of land. However, she never honored the agreement, refused to repay the money, and failed to provide the promised land. Though village officials arranged a payment plan of 1,000 baht per month, Lammul never complied. That morning, while tending his buffalo, he encountered Sangwian and asked her to settle the land matter, but she refused. Feeling wronged and impoverished, he acted in fury, killing her with the axe he was carrying before surrendering to authorities.

Lammul tearfully claimed her mother was uninvolved in the matter. She acknowledged borrowing from Sakkri for daily expenses and had promised to use her inherited land as collateral, but that land had already been seized by another creditor before Sakkri's claims. She stated Sakkri had frequently threatened her to repay the debt. They had recently agreed to a 1,000 baht monthly payment plan, but she was unable to pay during the rubber harvest closure season. Lammul expressed her desire for justice for her mother, refuting social media claims that her mother was a serial debtor, insisting her mother never knew of or borrowed from Sakkri.

A pickup truck carrying basketball athletes from Nonthaburi Witthayalai School lost control on a curve and crashed into an electrical pole, leaving nine people injured—eight students and one coach. The accident happened at 4:45 p.m. on May 13, 2025, in Soi Bang Plab 2 on Chai Phruek Road, Pak Kret District, Nonthaburi. Police from Chai Phruek Station and Po Tek Tung Foundation volunteers arrived to find a gold Mazda pickup truck belonging to the school severely damaged against the pole on the curved section of road. The victims suffered bruises, leg and arm injuries, and in the coach's case, a fractured skull. Rescue teams transported them to Krungthep Pak Kret Hospital, Pak Kret Hospital, and Vibharam Pak Kret Hospital. Initial investigation indicates the vehicle was heading to basketball practice when it suddenly lost control for unknown reasons and struck the pole with significant force. Police will conduct further investigation and take legal action.

A witness account reveals how two men entered a VIP room at a restaurant where a renowned amulet dealer was conducting a debt settlement meeting. The assailants claimed to be looking for a friend, then attacked the victim by dragging him from his chair and repeatedly punching his head with brass knuckles until staff intervened and forced them to flee on a motorcycle. The incident occurred on January 14, 2568, leaving the victim severely injured with multiple head wounds and blood scattered throughout the VIP room. According to witness Ms. Pia (pseudonym), 25, a restaurant employee present during the attack, the perpetrators acted calmly and openly, and the victim was unable to defend himself as he was pinned to the ground. After the incident, staff called an ambulance and police, and the case has since stalled. Police have identified both suspects and are reportedly tracking them to proceed with charges.

A case involving online merchant Aekkhalak, who submitted video evidence of being hit by a pickup truck driven by a former mobile network executive before the driver fled, has now resulted in formal charges. The incident occurred on the evening of January 7th. On May 13th, 2569, Pol. Lt. Col. Nusorn Krittyachotee, deputy investigation commander at Ladprao Police Station, announced that the executive, 55-year-old Saharath, was being formally notified of charges for reckless driving causing property damage and hit-and-run. Multiple mediation attempts between the two parties had failed since March 27th, with both sides missing appointments and productive discussions breaking down, causing case delays.

Regarding the defendant's claim that he mistakenly went to Khokkhram Police Station for three days before reporting to Ladprao station, he initially argued there was no intent to flee but rather a misunderstanding about jurisdiction. However, the three-day delay raises questions about potential avoidance of alcohol testing, though without scientific evidence from that time period, drunk driving charges cannot proceed. Hit-and-run carries penalties of up to three months imprisonment and 2,000-10,000 baht in fines.

The defendant has also filed an assault countercharge against the victim. While he claims to have dashcam and video evidence plus a hospital medical certificate, police note that regular hospital certificates cannot serve as legal evidence for assault cases—only forensic medical certificates can. The victim must obtain a forensic medical examination to properly support the assault claim. Despite months passing, forensic doctors can still analyze medical records from the original treatment to issue the required documentation.

Two criminal cases are drawing intense public scrutiny over how police are investigating them, raising questions about whether investigators will pursue perpetrators thoroughly or handle matters with kid gloves. Both cases involve state officials becoming implicated, suggesting they may not progress as expected.

One involves Ming Chen Sun, a Chinese national, found with a massive arsenal of military weapons and explosives—essentially a small ammunition depot—in a residential area of Bang Lamung, Chon Buri.

The discovery of materials capable of causing such serious harm understandably alarmed the public. However, police's initial statements disappointed many by attempting to downplay the severity, suggesting it was merely a collection hobby.

Later, when additional information emerged showing the suspect's connections to Cambodian scammer networks and his gunfire training in Cambodia, the case took on far greater significance.

Public pressure mounted for police to investigate more deeply, questioning what purpose such an arsenal was intended for in Thailand.

Critically, investigators needed to determine where the military weapons, explosives, and firearms originated. It was discovered that some weapons came through military officials, while some firearms belonged to police—though fortunately, they were personal weapons.

Once connections to government officials surfaced, public alarm grew. This perception that police were handling the case halfheartedly became widespread.

This brings to mind another case stalled in similar fashion: the shooting of MP Kamomsak Livamaoh, a Nakhon Ratchasima representative from the Bhumjaithai Party. Seven suspects have been arrested, including former and current naval personnel.

The key evidence is a government vehicle belonging to the Prime Minister's Office that the shooting team allegedly used.

Because government vehicles and active state officials were involved in the MP's shooting, this case also appears to be handled hesitantly by police.

The pattern is troubling: weapons and explosives in the Chinese suspect's possession may have come from state officials, and the government vehicle served as evidence in the MP shooting case.

Both cases have stalled without substantial progress.

Police work has faced severe public criticism, raising a critical question: Why are serious criminal cases so often entangled with state officials?

— Wong Tawan