Moment US press and Chinese security argue in chaotic scenes

A bunch of US press following Donald Trump around on his trip to China had to push their way past security after they were blocked from joining his motorcade.

Trump is in China to meet with Xi Jinping but the reporters who've followed him across the Pacific Ocean have had a difficult time of it.

According to the New York Post today (14 May) has been marred by a trio of events, the first of which was the Chinese press pack barging into Trump's morning meeting with Xi where they knocked down and stepped on a White House team member.

She was bruised, though not seriously injured.

The second thing going wrong today happened during the visit to the Temple of Heaven, where a US secret service agent wasn't allowed in by Chinese security because they were carrying a firearm, even though it was part of their job to have one.

Chinese officials wouldn't let the US press leave, so they pushed their way out (BBC)

The third event occurred once it was time to leave the temple, as the US press had been shut in a holding room and when Trump was leaving for his motorcade the reporters tried to leave as well.

However, Chinese officials wouldn't let them go.

"He's moving to the cars right now," members of the US press were heard telling Chinese officials as they appealed to be allowed to leave.

They kept trying to explain that they had to get back on the road and follow the presidential motorcade, but they still couldn't go.

A Chinese staffer told them 'the security on our side will not allow you to leave', but cries of 'we gotta move' and 'US press we are going' had the reporters making their way out of the holding room as they pushed past security and departed.

"Be gentle, but we are going. Don't run over anybody, do not do what they did to us," one woman said to the others in an apparent reference to the White House team member being knocked to the ground and stepped on by the Chinese press pack earlier that day.

Another group of officials tried to stop them outside but they kept moving and got to the cars of the presidential motorcade.

On the trip Trump tried to pull some of his old tricks with a handshake where a body language expert said Xi had the upper hand, while a hot mic caught someone saying 'get the f**k out of here' behind the scenes.

One of the issues on the agenda between the two leaders is the matter of Taiwan, which China considers to be theirs while the US continues to work on a deal to supply Taiwan with billions of dollars worth of arms.

Trump is in China to discuss several things, including Taiwan (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

What is the US' position on Taiwan?

The US follows something called the 'One China' policy, which means it diplomatically acknowledges only one Chinese government, but doesn't wholly subscribe to China's view that Taiwan belongs to them. China considers the island a breakaway territory which will eventually be reunified with the mainland, and has set a target for this to happen by 2049.

The US does not recognise Taiwan as a fully fledged country, having broken off diplomatic relations with it in 1979 to shift recognition to Beijing. In fact, only 12 countries and the Vatican recognise Taiwan's sovereignty.

The US does not have an embassy in Taiwan, but it does have an office dubbed the American Institute in Taiwan.

At the same time, the US is one of Taiwan's biggest supporters. It is currently in the process of a $14 billion arms package with the island - which isn't going down well with China.

Why does China want Taiwan?

Taiwan was first a part of China in the 17th century, although it was later seized by the Japanese as a result of the First Sino-Japanese War.

When Japan surrendered in the Second World War the island was returned to the Republic of China, but in 1949 their governing party the KMT fled to Taiwan during the Chinese communist revolution.

While the communists evicted the Republic of China's government from the mainland they weren't able to take Taiwan and their split has been a geopolitical issue ever since.

Mainland China is keen to let the world know there is only one Chinese government and says the island is their territory.

Taiwan is also key to the global economy, particularly in electronics. One company - the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company or TSMC - is responsible for half of the worldwide market.

Taiwan is also significant geographically. It's part of something called the 'first island chain' - a chain of US-friendly islands off China's east coast.

China taking control of Taiwan would extend its military sphere of influence and be crucial for shipping routes.