How the US went from ‘a position of strength’ to ‘gung-ho’ on China

In a significant shift from a previous stance of viewing China as a competitor to be dealt with from a position of strength, the United States has adopted a more conciliatory approach towards Beijing. This transformation was evident in the official welcome given to Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, upon their arrival in Washington, D.C., where they received full military honors and a 21-gun salute, signaling an acknowledgment of China as an equal global power.

This change in mindset was driven by the realization that attempts to decouple from China and sever supply chains were economically counterproductive, and that pragmatic negotiations could yield better outcomes. The United States and China have since established formal communication channels for addressing AI-related incidents and have agreed to coordinate on issues such as joint law enforcement operations against illicit drug precursor networks.

This newfound willingness to engage constructively extends beyond high-level diplomacy, with a notable shift in American public opinion, particularly among younger generations, who view China as a formidable civilizational power deserving of coexistence rather than conquest.

Brief written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.