Introduction
From May 12 to 15, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump visited China for the first time in nine years, drawing widespread attention. In this episode, Prof. Da Wei, Director of the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) at Tsinghua University, and Dr. Shao Yuqun, Director of the Institute for Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau Studies at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, sit down with Senior Colonel (Ret.) Zhou Bo, Senior Fellow at CISS, and Prof. Xie Tao, Dean of the School of International Relations and Diplomacy at Beijing Foreign Studies University. Together, they analyze the core outcomes of the summit and engage in an intriguing discussion on whether both sides achieved their respective expectations, the impact of this visit on the trajectory of U.S.-China relations and the broader international landscape, as well as its potential implications for the U.S. midterm elections.
Shownotes
01:29-07:19 How to understand "constructive strategic stability"?
07:20-11:24 What is the end state of U.S.-China strategic competition? Where is the finish line?
11:25-16:08 How is today's strategic stability different from that of the Cold War era?
16:09-20:51 What problems and challenges may arise in achieving U.S.-China strategic stability?
20:52-28:47 What specific outcomes were achieved at the summit? What was the most significant achievement?
28:48-34:51 How to interpret President Trump's remarks aboard Air Force One?
34:52-41:15 Will the outcomes of the visit affect Trump's performance in the U.S. midterm elections?
41:15-46:15 How does the turmoil in the Middle East affect U.S.-China relations?
46:16-51:19 Could U.S.-China summit diplomacy become a "new normal"? How will it affect bilateral relations?
51:20-56:58 Will the results of the U.S. midterm elections impact U.S. policy toward China?