From Foreign Policy · Sun Chenghao · · 1m 40s
What Beijing Means By Strategic Stability
China and US agree on strategic stability to manage competition without escalation.
In brief
China and US agree on strategic stability to manage competition without escalation. China and US need political framework to prevent competition from escalating into confrontation. Originally reported by Foreign Policy.
Trump and Xi agree on strategic stability
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to build a constructive relationship of strategic stability in May.
Strategic stability prevents escalation
The framework ensures competition does not drift toward confrontation through respect, fairness, and reciprocity.
Competition needs political framework
The leaders acknowledged competition requires a political framework to prevent it from escalating into confrontation.
Past summits lacked continuity
Xi and Trump's 2018 meeting produced a trade truce but tariff escalation resumed in May 2019.
Bali meeting derailed progress
Xi and Biden's November 2022 meeting in Bali opened diplomatic engagement but the balloon incident in February 2023 derailed Blinken's visit.
Regular engagement needed
The Washington summit showed the need for regular leader-level engagement to sustain momentum from one-off summits.
Stability lowers conflict risk
Building shock absorbers into the relationship reduces the risk that competition ends in conflict.
Economic mechanisms must function
The Board of Trade and Board of Investment should keep functioning even when negotiations become difficult.
Military channels stay open
Military channels should remain open when political relations worsen because they are most immediately needed.
AI discussions begin
The two countries can discuss AI risks, shared terminology, and cyber-risks without a grand bargain.
Student exchanges address knowledge gap
Xi invited 100,000 young Americans to visit China for study and exchanges over five years.
The takeaway
China and US need political framework to prevent competition from escalating into confrontation.
