A summit that didn't change the world but may stabilize it
Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Washington did not yield a historic breakthrough, but its very occurrence and accompanying ceremonies convey controlled competition between the superpowers. The military aerial choreography and the tech-heavy guest list were designed to project American strength, while Xi emphasized cooperation while hinting at Japan as a shared historical enemy. Agreement on a dedicated AI communication channel and two future meetings are bright spots.
Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Washington did not produce a historic breakthrough or dramatic agreements, but its very occurrence and the accompanying ceremonies convey controlled competition between the two superpowers. The military aerial choreography with strategic bombers and the tech-heavy guest list at the state dinner were designed to project American strength. Xi emphasized cooperation while hinting at Japan as a shared historical enemy, aiming to undermine the US-Japan alliance. Agreement on a dedicated AI communication channel and two future meetings (APEC in November and G20 in December) are bright spots. The meetings themselves are more important than agreements, as they require preparatory meetings between mechanisms and open communication channels. The analysis points to a moratorium on the rivalry, not friendship.