Trump and Xi Trade Warm Words but Make Little Progress on Key Issues
· World · BBC News
US President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping exchanged praise at a lavish White House state dinner on Thursday but signalled little movement on the disputes dividing the world's two largest economies. Trump hailed a future of "harmony, peace and success" and said the two countries had "never gotten along better", while Xi called the moment a "historic juncture" in US-China relations. Yet neither leader addressed the sharpest flashpoints — Taiwan, trade, technology and AI — despite Xi urging Washington to take the "correct position" on Taiwan and to handle its approach "with prudence". The dinner came hours after Trump delayed approving a $14bn arms package for Taiwan, a move announced after Xi's May warning. Outside the White House gates, protesters shouting slogans were arrested as billionaire CEOs and tech leaders arrived for the event.
Why it matters
Taiwan is the most dangerous fault line between Washington and Beijing, and the frozen $14bn weapons deal leaves Taipei's defences in limbo while Beijing keeps its territorial claims alive. For India, the lack of progress on trade, technology and AI signals that US-China strategic competition — which shapes supply chains, chip access and Indo-Pacific security — is unlikely to ease anytime soon.
Read the original report — BBC News
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