President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing this week produced modest results by summit standards but highlighted a clear benefit for China: after the extremes of last year's trade war, the countries have reverted to their familiar economic and strategic standoff.
Two days of talks between Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping underscored that the contest Trump inherited when he started his second term remains unresolved.
For the United States, the most troubling aspects - from Beijing's mercantilist trade policies to its military buildup in the Indo-Pacific - remain largely unaddressed.
For Xi, it offers breathing room and a return to predictable challenges. He framed the shift as "constructive strategic stability."
China came out ahead given the retreat from Trump's aggressive trade approach from early 2025, said Scott Kennedy of CSIS.
The summit did not yield major trade breakthroughs, but both sides agreed to manage tensions.
