China and the United States appear to have reached broad agreement on establishing a “constructive” relationship marked by “strategic stability,” but major differences remain over what the relationship should look like in practice, according to remarks made at a forum in Beijing. Speaking at the World Peace Forum hosted by Tsinghua University, Sun Yun, director of the China programme at the Stimson Centre, says leaders have aligned on the concept, yet there is no shared consensus on the meaning of the term or the specific commitments that would operationalize it.
Both outlets describe uncertainty ahead of a possible visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the United States later this year. Sun notes that such high-level trips usually involve a package of deliverables, but she says the two sides have not agreed on what those deliverables would include. She also highlights a divergence in priorities: Beijing tends to emphasize constructive elements such as cooperation, while Washington focuses more on managing disputes. As a result, while the countries may share an overall framework, the detailed agenda and interpretation of “strategic stability” remain unresolved.
