Xi's Washington Visit: Stagecraft Outweighs Substance

Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Washington has been finalized with full state honors, marking his first such visit in over a decade after weeks of negotiations between the two countries. The U.S. agreed to China's demand for full state visit treatment, including honor guards, a 21-gun salute, and a formal White House ceremony. President Trump seeks to impress Xi and stabilize relations ahead of the midterm elections, while Xi aims to project equal standing with the U.S. leader amid domestic pressures. Neither leader is willing to concede on core issues such as advanced technology, particularly artificial intelligence, and geopolitical influence. Both sides unusually prioritized the visit's optics over substantive outcomes, reflecting their shared focus on appearances.