Chinese President Xi Jinping is reportedly choosing a high-level official to represent him at President-elect Trump’s inauguration Jan. 20, in a break from diplomatic protocol of years past.  Trump’s transition spokesperson confirmed last month that the president-elect offered an invitation for Xi to attend the inauguration, and Beijing has communicated to the transition team that a top official would attend in the place of the Chinese leader, the Financial Times reported Thursday. The Hill has reached out to the Trump transition team and the Chinese Embassy in Washington for comment.  The Financial Times reported Beijing is considering sending Vice President Han Zheng or Foreign Minister Wang Yi. But the Trump team reportedly requested Cai Qi, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee who is responsible for China’s ideology, culture and internet regulation. The move would mark significant outreach on the part of China to try to ease relations with Trump and his team in the face of the president-elect’s threats to impose 60 percent tariffs on all of its imports. In Congress, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are united in identifying China as a major threat to America’s national security, from economic coercion, cyberattacks and hacks, to threats against Taiwan’s sovereignty. Taiwanese Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu will lead an eight-member delegation to Trump's inauguration, Focus Taiwan reported earlier this month. The Associated Press reports no head of state has previously made an official visit to the U.S. for an inauguration, according to State Department historical records. In 2021, President Biden invited China’s ambassador to the U.S. to his inauguration, although the Chinese Foreign Ministry opposed the U.S. inviting Taiwan’s representative in Washington, underscoring its policy opposing any interactions between U.S. and Taiwanese officials.  During Trump’s first inauguration in 2017, Chinese officials said they received assurances from the U.S. that it would only invite foreign envoys based in the U.S. to attend the inauguration, rather than invite or encourage other countries or regions to send delegations. —Updated at 12:38 p.m.