Susan Thornton on US-China ties, post-midterms and averting a new balloon crisis

Former US diplomat Susan Thornton discusses the significance of the recent US-China summit and how it could help avert a new balloon crisis. She believes that leader-level meetings are crucial in maintaining US-China relations and that high-level meetings like the recent summit help regularize such interactions. Thornton notes that some negative coverage following the summit is expected, as the bar is high for outcomes from these meetings. She emphasizes the need for constructive strategic stability to avoid conflicts and crises.

Thornton discusses the importance of understanding each side's potential triggers for conflict and highlights ongoing progress in this area under the current administration. She points out that while the economic sphere may pose fewer challenges, security concerns, particularly those related to Taiwan, remain a significant area of tension. She expresses hope that the US side can effectively manage the issue of US arms sales to Taiwan, as this has been successfully managed in the past.

She also notes that President Trump has a solid understanding of China's red lines on Taiwan, which has reassured Beijing. However, she acknowledges that the military-to-military communication mechanisms between the two countries are unstable and could pose a threat to the relationship. Ultimately, Thornton believes that the recent summit is a positive step towards normalizing US-China relations and maintaining strategic stability, but that ongoing dialogue and management of sensitive issues is crucial to avoiding crises.