The Guardian view on Trump and Xi: a show of friendship, but no real attempt to address the tensions

The Chinese leader’s visit to Washington appears to have done nothing to shift the stalemate in bilateral relations

The Guardian view on Trump and Xi: a show of friendship, but no real attempt to address the tensions

TL;DR

  • Two giant pandas, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, are being sent to Atlanta zoo as a symbol of friendship from China.
  • The summit between Presidents Trump and Xi saw expectations remain low, with little of consequence emerging beyond a two-month extension of the trade war truce.
  • Disagreements persist on issues such as China's stance on Taiwan and its support for Iran.
  • The race for Artificial Intelligence (AI) dominance is a central point of tension, with both leaders expressing concerns about the other side gaining an advantage and a reluctance to implement development controls.
  • The article suggests the summit illustrates the dangers of 'drift' in the consequential US-China diplomatic relationship.