BEIJING | The Trump-Xi summit produced ceremony, commercial claims and unusually visible personal diplomacy, but the hardest questions in U.S.-China relations remain unresolved.
Taiwan sits at the center of the strategic risk. Beijing continues to treat Taiwan as a core interest, while Washington’s commitments and regional relationships make any escalation dangerous for the entire Indo-Pacific.
Iran gave the summit a global-security dimension beyond bilateral trade. Trump said Iran must not obtain nuclear weapons and emphasized the Strait of Hormuz, while China’s public posture remained focused on stability and avoiding further conflict.
Trade enforcement remains another open question. The two governments can announce purchases, but the history of U.S.-China trade diplomacy is filled with pledges that later collided with market realities, domestic politics or verification disputes.
Technology controls are just as important. The competition over advanced semiconductors, artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure and rare earths will not be resolved by a summit photo. It is built into the strategic rivalry.
The symbolism of Xi’s rare garden tour of Trump mattered because power in diplomacy is often performed visually. Beijing presented itself as confident, ancient and stable. Washington presented the visit as proof that direct leader-to-leader engagement can produce results.
Allies will read the summit carefully. Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Australia and European governments need to know whether Washington’s commercial priorities are being balanced with security commitments.
Markets will also separate signal from noise. A claimed aircraft order or soybean purchase can move headlines, but sustained confidence requires implementation and a lower risk of sudden escalation.
The summit’s main achievement may be communication itself. In a rivalry this consequential, face-to-face talks can reduce miscalculation. But communication is not settlement.
For readers, the simplest way to understand the summit is this: the relationship may be less frozen, but it is not less competitive.
Additional Reporting By: Reuters; The Guardian; Associated Press