Watch: Chinese soldier on hand in case Donald Trump trips down steps - like Margaret Thatcher in 1982
China deployed a soldier to closely watch every step that Donald Trump took as he navigated a set of stairs that Margaret Thatcher tumbled down 35 years ago.
Walking sideways just inches from Mr Trump’s left shoulder, the soldier fixed his gaze on the US president’s feet as he strode down two flights of steps from the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Mr Trump had just concluded talks with Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, on Thursday, and was making his way to his motorcade.
He was closely monitored by the attentive soldier for almost 20 seconds, a video captured by The Telegraph shows.
Beijing appeared to be taking no chances with the 71-year-old billionaire, and authorities would have been mindful of an incident involving Mrs Thatcher in 1982.
The former British prime minister fell down the same stairs at the north entrance of the Great Hall of the People following talks with Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping.
Mrs Thatcher became the first serving prime minister to visit Communist China when she arrived in Beijing for the start of complicated and often difficult talks on the future of Hong Kong.
She initially believed that the former colony could remain - at least partially - under British control.
But she would eventually be forced to back down for one of the few times in her career, agreeing to hand over full sovereignty of the city to China in 1997.
Chinese media described her fall, which was captured by television cameras, as the result of Deng's “aggressive negotiations”.
In a report which identified the north entrance of the building as the scene of the tumble, The Beijing Times said: “She obviously was not in a good mood after talks which lasted two-and-a-half hours.”
But Mr Trump faced far less antagonism from his Chinese hosts who rolled out what was billed a ‘state visit plus’.
The US president has praised the welcome he received in a series of tweets and has flattered Mr Xi throughout the trip.
The Great Hall of the People is the main ceremonial building for China’s Communist Party leaders.
Additional reporting by Christine Wei
