Trump and Xi Raise a Glass to a “New Chapter” — But the Real US–China Battle Is Only Beginning
Donald Trump welcomed Xi Jinping with military honors, an eagle sculpture, a state dinner rich in historical symbolism and some of America’s most powerful technology executives at the table. The imagery suggested a reset. The substance was more complicated: the trade truce was extended by only two months, Taiwan remains a red line, China’s dominance in rare earths gives Beijing powerful leverage, and the race for artificial intelligence is moving to the heart of the rivalry between the world’s two largest economies.