Two Superpowers Across the Table

President Trump’s upcoming summit with President Xi Jinping in Beijing unfolds against a backdrop of diminished U.S. leverage, exacerbated by the unresolved conflict with Iran. While the administration prioritizes immediate, visible trade deliverables—specifically beef, beans, and Boeing—fundamental geopolitical divides remain largely unaddressed. These include China’s rapid nuclear buildup, the status of Taiwan, and the lack of enforceable guardrails for artificial intelligence. China increasingly positions itself as a stable, long-term alternative to U.S. influence, viewing the current American administration as distracted and ill-prepared. Despite the high stakes, the meeting is expected to produce superficial business agreements rather than substantive progress on the core issues defining the competition for global dominance in technology, military power, and economic leadership.