Chinese security authorities and the U.S. Secret Service experienced a brief standoff on Thursday when Chinese officials blocked an armed Secret Service agent from entering the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, according to reports from Chinese local media.

During President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing's Temple of Heaven with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, one Secret Service agent was reportedly stopped from entering with a weapon. The incident led to a "tense standoff" that sparked a heated argument and delayed entry by more than 30 minutes.

This was not the only standoff witnessed by journalists on the trip.

"I’ve witnessed several tense standoffs since arriving here, with the Chinese side repeatedly trying to prevent American journalists and staff from leaving their seats to join the motorcade," reported Connor Stringer, a reporter for The Telegraph, on X.

The White House and the Secret Service have not commented on the standoff.

Fox News reported that this is not the first time tensions have escalated between U.S. intelligence agencies and Chinese security authorities.

During President Trump's visit in 2017, a commotion reportedly broke out over the "nuclear football," a briefcase containing the tools needed for the president to order a nuclear attack, Axios reported.

According to reports at the time, a U.S. military aide carrying the briefcase was blocked by Chinese security personnel from entering the conference hall. Then-White House Chief of Staff John Kelly was reportedly alerted to the news and rushed to the scene to escort the aide.

By Sung Ku Hong, Chief Editor, NNP USA / Special to NNP info@newsandpost.com