[Trump Brings Defense Secretary to China Visit, First Since Nixon]

This time, Trump’s visit to China is particularly notable for bringing along the Defense Secretary—a rare break from long-standing diplomatic conventions. According to the White House, Hegseth will accompany Trump on the trip; American media have already captured photos of Hegseth boarding the plane with the rest of the delegation. This marks the first time in decades that a Pentagon chief has accompanied an incumbent U.S. president on a state visit to China.

According to Hong Kong's South China Morning Post, since Nixon’s historic breakthrough visit in 1972, this is the first time a sitting U.S. president has brought the Defense Secretary to China. Given the unique nature of the defense secretary’s role, past visits by U.S. defense ministers were typically arranged separately. Hegseth’s inclusion thus breaks precedent—and also represents his first visit to China since taking charge of the Pentagon.

In terms of timing, the last visit by a U.S. defense secretary to China occurred during Trump’s first term, when then-Defense Secretary Mattis traveled to China in 2018. In subsequent years, U.S.-China defense minister meetings usually took place within broader multilateral settings, with Singapore’s Shangri-La Dialogue being the most prominent forum.

Given the significance of Hegseth breaking convention, the international community is closely watching. Trump has long been known for defying norms and conventional paths—bringing Hegseth along on this visit clearly carries deeper implications. Speculation abounds that this trip may lead to a U.S.-China defense minister meeting, further strengthening military communication and coordination between the two nations, especially to prevent strategic miscalculations in the Western Pacific region. However, all of this remains speculative and will require careful observation over the next two days.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1865071979589644/

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