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Trump’s $5 million White House helipad may not be used by Xi
A China-focused security expert says Chinese protocol is unlikely to allow Xi to take a helicopter ride from the new helipad during the visit.
South China Morning Post reports US President Donald Trump has been eager to showcase a new White House helipad he built at a cost of about US$5 million to Chinese President Xi Jinping during Xi’s first state visit to the United States in 11 years.
The story says the helipad is part of Trump’s effort to leave a visible mark on Washington, in parallel with how he hosted Xi in Beijing four months earlier, with both leaders using grand gestures to project images of capability.
However, the outlet quotes Yun Sun, a senior fellow at the Stimson Centre, saying Xi is unlikely to actually use the helipad for a helicopter ride this week.
Sun attributed the likely restriction to Chinese security protocol, adding that it probably will not permit helicopter take off or landing or Xi Jinping to ride.