Trump and Xi project stability amid fragile US-China thaw

President Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington this week with elaborate ceremony, including a bomber flyover and military review, as both leaders sought to project stability in U.S.-China relations despite underlying tensions. Xi presented China as an equal superpower, calling for "benign" competition and warning against zero-sum conflict, while both sides extended a trade truce to early 2027 and activated a trade board. However, progress on contentious issues like rare earths, export controls, Taiwan, and Iran remained scant. Analysts noted both sides see themselves in strong positions, incentivizing strategic stability without substantive breakthroughs. Trump's trade war and Iran conflict have pushed countries like Canada closer to China, which presents itself as a stability beacon.