Atlanta, May 12, 2026 – As President Donald Trump prepares to travel to China for a landmark summit with President Xi Jinping, Chinese and Taiwanese Americans across metro Atlanta are watching closely with cautious optimism, personal stakes, and heartfelt hopes for peace and stability.
For many in the community, the meeting is far more than a geopolitical headline. It is personal.
“Conversations around China and Taiwan are never abstract for many of us,” said Lily Pabian, a community advocate and Executive Director of We Love Buford Highway. “They are tied to memory, survival, and belonging across generations.” Pabian, who traces family roots to the Kuomintang, hopes the summit prioritizes stability and the humanity of those most affected — particularly Taiwan's right to preserve its democracy and cultural identity without coercion.
On the economic front, Chinese American business owners feel the pressure most directly. David Yu, Publisher of Xin Times, a local Chinese community newspaper, noted that many are on the front lines of the trade standoff. “They hope both countries could soften the trade standoff,” he said, adding that people from both Taiwan and mainland China share a desire for softer language on Taiwan in exchange for a peaceful political and economic environment.
Maggie Mers, President of MBM International Logistics, echoed those sentiments. “What happens between the U.S. and China impacts not only trade and technology, but also education, cultural exchange, and families and communities like ours,” she said, calling for both sides to communicate respectfully and manage differences wisely.
On a lighter but symbolic note, Lani Wong, Chair of the National Association of Chinese Americans (NACA), drew a hopeful parallel to history. Recalling the sorrow many felt when Zoo Atlanta's four giant pandas returned to China in 2024, she welcomed news of two pandas coming back to Atlanta. “Perhaps this marks the beginning of a new era of Panda Diplomacy,” she said — a nod to the people-to-people connections that have long anchored U.S.-China ties since the famed Ping-Pong Diplomacy of the 1970s.
NACA President Nellie Li offered a steady, forward-looking voice. “We are confident that both governments can find areas of cooperation necessary to avoid economic and geopolitical shocks while managing competition responsibly,” she said. Li reaffirmed NACA's 46-year commitment to fostering mutual understanding and constructive engagement between the two nations.
Across metro Atlanta, the Chinese and Taiwanese diaspora are hopeful for a positive outcome for the Summit as many have families and communities whose lives hand in the balance.
