Xi signals confidence that U.S. and China can avoid destructive rivalry
Source Summary
Chinese President Xi Jinping asked U.S. President Donald Trump in May whether the two countries could avoid destructive rivalry. Xi now appears to believe they can overcome what analysts call the 'Thucydides Trap'—the historical pattern in which rising and established powers clash.
Why it matters
Xi's stated belief that the two superpowers can avoid destructive rivalry signals a potential shift in U.S.-China diplomatic positioning at a critical moment in their relationship.
