How the US went from ‘a position of strength’ to ‘gung-ho’ on China

AI Summary

The article examines how US policy toward China has shifted from an assertive approach based on acting from a position of strength to a framework described as constructive strategic stability. It situates the shift in the changing balance and conduct of competition between Washington and Beijing, following a summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.

Not so long ago, Washington’s approach to relations with Beijing was anchored by a single assertive phrase: dealing “from a position of strength”. It was rooted in a unipolar mindset: a belief that the United States could dictate terms, manage competition unilaterally and demand compliance from a distance. Yet, at their recent summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump formally established a new strategic framework: a “constructive strategic stability relationship based...