Zheng Yongnian on China-US realism and battling for the upper hand before the next summit

Zheng Yongnian, a Chinese political scientist and government adviser, weighs in on the Xi-Trump summit in Washington. He argues that realism should guide our assessment of China-US relations, recognizing that both nations are major powers with distinct national interests. Cooperation and competition are inevitable, but the summit achieved the best possible outcome given the current circumstances.

Economic and trade relations have become more stable, with complementary economies and shared consensus on the importance of these ties. However, political trust remains insufficient for addressing security issues. The Chinese side's focus on military-to-military communication and security concerns contrasts with the US's emphasis on trilateral arms control negotiations, highlighting differing priorities.

Despite these differences, both sides recognize the need for cooperation on Taiwan and the South China Sea. To ensure a durable, stable relationship beyond Trump's presidency, China and the US must build political trust through frequent communication and work together to address their most significant security concerns.