The meeting between the Chinese and U.S. presidents in South Korea at the end of October resolved some issues but left many unanswered. These deferred questions will likely drive next year’s Sino-American policy agenda.

The message of the meeting of two presidents in South Korea is not one of dominance but of balancing — the idea that great power diplomacy can bring stability to the world in uncertain times.

In a significant recalibration, the Busan summit helped stabilize China-U.S. relations, which now appear unlikely to return to the past or fall into confrontation. Both sides will instead seek equilibrium through communication and prudent action.

The first in-person meeting between Presidents Trump and Xi in six years focused almost exclusively on trade and technology, resulting in a temporary rollback of tariffs and export restrictions but producing no new agreements or progress on broader security or geopolitical issues. The meeting largely served to stabilize U.S.-China relations and decrease tensions, with both leaders agreeing to reciprocal visits in 2026 for further discussions, effectively “kicking the can down the road” on deeper bilateral challenges.

During the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum on Sept. 18-19 at the Beijing International Convention Center, Da Wei, Director of the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) and Professor of International Relations at Tsinghua University, was interviewed by China-US Focus Beijing editor Huang Zhijin. Da Wei believes that in the short term, China-U.S. relations will remain focused on maintaining stability; and as domestic political imperatives and broader global strategic considerations increasingly dominate the policy agenda, the Indo-Pacific strategy under Trump 2.0 appears to be losing substance.

The recent prisoner swap and forward movement on illicit drugs by China and the United States demonstrates that the two powers can make stabilizing progress together when they put their minds to it. But more uncertainty is on the way, as Donald Trump returns to the White House.

The summit meeting of presidents Xi Jinping and Joe Biden was an opportunity to redefine the narrative, find balance and set a precedent for a more predictable framework in which global challenges can be tackled together. The world is watching.

Despite the prevailing view of "structural fatalism" in Sino-American relations, there is a growing determination on the part of both Chinese and American leaderships to engage in direct dialogue and build trust. A high-level, face-to-face meeting between Presidents Xi and Biden is essential for addressing critical questions, clarifying baselines, and signaling the willingness for further communication, with a focus on managing the Sino-U.S. relationship.

Industrial and supply chains have become the main theater of competition between China and the United States. America’s technology war will be deliberate, intense and long-term. For this reason, China must be strategically prepared for a protracted fight.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s visit to Beijing may help set the tone for cordial bilateral ties with China, but could also stir wariness on the part of the country’s longstanding treaty ally, the United States. The Philippines must carefully navigate its position to avoid being seen as favoring either side.