Xi-Trump summit in Beijing heralds start of constructive, stable relations
This hopefully will define the bilateral relationship for the rest of Trump’s term. It is not simply the definition of a relationship between partners or rivals, however, but a realisation that the China-US relationship is so complex and consequential they need to keep it stable – not only for the sake of the two peoples, but also for the international community.
This will require the two sides to proactively manage the relationship. China realises there is bound to be competition and differences. But no rivalry should override the importance of an enduring stability between the two, given it is the base of the development of not only China and the US, but the whole world.
China-US summit ‘remarkable’ but is it enough to change relations?
The two presidents began the day with two hours of talks at the Great Hall of the People, where Chinese leader Xi Jinping urged the two countries to be “partners, not rivals”.
With the US, China must choose constructive power over destruction
China needs the global system to succeed. So it must not get entangled with Iran nor jeopardise US relations over Taiwan
Foreign affairs are not a series of disconnected episodes. They are a test of whether nations learn from history and act with foresight. The United States has often failed that test. It forgets that unchecked aggression leads to wider wars and that removing governments without building new authority invites chaos.
That system requires stability, and stability requires accommodation with the US, however pushy Washington may seem.
China’s rise has brought undeniable benefits. It has lifted millions out of poverty, contributed to global supply chains and become a hub for manufacturing and innovation. But prosperity is not self-sustaining. It depends on rules, trust and the willingness of nations to accommodate each other’s interests.
Beijing may feel its accomplishments have not been fully appreciated, but resentment, if any, is not a strategy. The global trading system is the foundation of China’s success, and it would not survive should major powers treat it as expendable.
The future – whether in science, medicine or energy – depends on peace. China has a stake in that world. It should act accordingly. The alternative is a slide into confrontation, where Beijing’s focus on Taiwan blinds it to the broader risks of aligning with destabilisers like Iran. That path would not only endanger China’s economic gains but also erode the fragile trust that allows global trade to flourish.
The challenge is to reset the China-US relationship. Constructive engagement is required. The US must be clear about its interests, and China must seriously consider accommodating them, especially when they feel intrusive. This is not about surrendering sovereignty and ambitions. It is about recognising interdependence.
China’s prosperity is tied to a system that requires compromise. The US, on the other hand, must avoid treating China simply as a threat. It must acknowledge China’s contributions and understand it is imperative that they find ways to compete peacefully.
History teaches us that ignoring aggression leads to war, and dismantling governments without rebuilding authority leads to chaos. China has so far avoided those mistakes. It should continue to do so by resisting entanglement with Iran and keeping its focus not only on Taiwan but also on the global system that sustains its rise.
The US must learn from its failures and craft a China policy that is more than hostility. Together, they must preserve the fragile peace that allows science, trade and progress to flourish. China must choose: stabiliser or spoiler. Its decision will shape not only its future but that of the world.
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