The recent Trump-Xi meeting in Beijing may not have resolved major geopolitical disputes, but renewed dialogue between the United States and China represents an important step toward reducing tensions and strategic misunderstanding.

US President Donald Trump’s recent visit to Beijing was a rare piece of good international news.  Some commentators seem nevertheless determined to cast the high-level talks to fit their anti-China agenda. Peter Hartcher’s article in the Sydney Morning Herald on 19 May is a case in point.

“Jaw jaw is better than war war” – misquoted from Winston Churchill – comes to mind. We should celebrate the simple fact that the leaders of the world’s two superpowers met. For years, relations between the US and China have been problematic and communication channels were in bad shape, often reduced to video calls or corridor meetings at multilateral events.

Probably the most significant outcome of Trump’s talks with Xi Jinping is the resumption of more regular bilateral meetings, official talks and second-track dialogue. The more contacts the better. Above all, both sides should strive to reduce misunderstandings and possible conflicts.

Hartcher, though, has a different take. Quoting former US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, he concludes that the US is pivoting away from Asia and ceding our region to China.

The relationship with the US is important to Xi and the Chinese government. In the light of Trump’s erratic decisions and international forays – including the war on Iran – China has concluded that it needs to maintain an even keel and cushion its economy and politics from shocks,........

© Pearls and Irritations