Emmitt Barry/ US Correspondent.
Chinese President Xi Jinping told President Donald Trump Thursday that the United States and China must avoid military confrontation, arguing that the world’s two largest economies can compete without allowing their rivalry to spiral into war.
Speaking during his state visit to Washington, Xi said the interests of the two nations are “deeply intertwined” and that both countries have far more to gain through cooperation than conflict.
“China and the United States, as two major countries, stand to gain from cooperation and will both lose in confrontation,” Xi said. “China and the United States must hold the line of no conflict and no confrontation between us.”
Xi acknowledged the intense competition between Washington and Beijing but urged both governments to keep it within limits.
“We do not need to avoid mentioning competition, but our competition should be a healthy one and should be kept within bounds,” Xi said. “It should be a race of catching up with one another, not a wrestle in which one either wins or loses.”
Xi: ‘The Thucydides Trap Can Be Overcome’
Xi also directly addressed fears that growing competition between the United States and China could ultimately result in war.
“Our two militaries should maintain regular dialogue, and improve mechanisms for crisis communication and prevention,” Xi said. “The Thucydides Trap can be overcome.”
The “Thucydides Trap” refers to the theory that conflict becomes increasingly likely when a rising power challenges an established dominant power. Xi has invoked the concept previously, including during Trump’s visit to Beijing in May, while arguing that such a confrontation is not inevitable.
Xi pointed to World War II as evidence that the two countries can cooperate despite profound political differences.
“During the Second World War, Chinese and Americans fought shoulder to shoulder,” Xi said. “Chinese people have never forgotten that part of history, nor have the American people.”
Trump likewise emphasized the relationship between the countries, telling Xi that the two leaders had forged what he called a “truly great friendship” built around mutual respect and the interests of their nations.
Taiwan, Trade and AI Remain Major Fault Lines
The conciliatory language came as Washington and Beijing continue to face serious disagreements over Taiwan, trade, advanced technology, rare-earth minerals and regional security.
During private talks, Xi urged Trump to handle Taiwan “with prudence” and pressed Washington to oppose Taiwanese independence, according to China’s official account of the meeting. The United States has traditionally said it does not support Taiwanese independence while maintaining, under U.S. law, the capacity to provide Taiwan with defensive weapons.
The two sides also agreed to extend their existing trade truce by two months, moving its expiration to January 10 as negotiations continue over tariffs, Chinese purchases of American agricultural products, rare-earth supplies and technology restrictions.
Artificial intelligence emerged as another major subject.
Xi said China and the United States have both the ability and responsibility to “develop and manage AI for good” while ensuring the technology remains “under human control and serves the well-being of the people.” Trump said beforehand that AI — which he has also called “super intelligence” — would be a major subject of the summit.
The discussions also come against the backdrop of the ongoing Iran conflict. China has resisted U.S. pressure to use its economic influence over Tehran to help secure an agreement, although Trump and Xi agreed during their May summit that Iran should not possess a nuclear weapon and called for reopening the Strait of Hormuz without tolls.
Despite the unresolved disputes, Xi presented the relationship as one in which strategic rivalry does not have to become open conflict.
“We can certainly find the right path for our two great countries to get along on this planet we both call home,” he said.
