Real winner of Xi summit revealed as Trump looks to usher in new era with China

President Donald Trump rolled out a state-visit welcome for Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House last week. The visit signals an effort by Trump to move toward a friendlier phase with a country that has long been treated as a rival, and it stands in contrast to years in which appearing lenient toward Beijing was a political attack line and national security planners were shifting attention to the Indo-Pacific and the possibility of conflict, according to Fox News.

Trump spoke warmly of his relationship with Xi, and the two governments sought new avenues for cooperation, especially around technology. Scott Kennedy, a China economics specialist at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, judged the outcome favorable to Xi. By his tally, the American side won modest gains: an agreement to cut tariffs on $60B worth of goods, purchases of certain products such as agricultural goods and coal, the launch of a dialogue on artificial intelligence, and shared aims on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.

The welcome clashed with how Washington's leaders have described China for years, citing hackers who penetrate American networks, state-backed theft of technology and trade secrets, unfair trade practices, and a growing military eyeing Taiwan. Gordon Chang, an author and analyst who favors a tougher line, accepted the need for talks with a rival but argued they did not require the ceremony and legitimization Xi received. The open question is how far Beijing's conduct has really shifted and what Washington will tolerate for stability.

Summarized by PolitiKool from Fox News’s reporting. Read the full story at Fox News →