What's Happening in China

Trade wars, Trump-Xi, and the AI race

EU-China trade tensions, more on Trump’s summit with Xi, and the growing debate over slowing AI development

Oct 3 • PC

3

1

September 2026

Trump-Xi summit: All pomp, little substance

The two leaders projected warmth and optimism, while leaving the hard issues unresolved

Sep 26 • PC

3

1

AI takes center stage ahead of Trump-Xi summit

As Trump and Xi prepare to meet, calls for restraint collide with an intensifying U.S.-China technology rivalry

Sep 19 • PC

4

2

Trump-Xi summit, EU-China tensions, and Beijing’s bank capital boost

Welcome back to What’s Happening in China, your weekly China brief.

Sep 12 • PC

1

Xi’s diplomatic push before U.S. visit

From the SCO summit to Cairo, Xi Jinping promoted China’s vision of a multipolar world while tensions with Washington remain unresolved

Sep 5 • PC

3

1

August 2026

The bumpy road to September

U.S. pressure on Beijing intensifies ahead of the Xi-Trump summit, even as both sides seek to preserve their fragile truce

Aug 29 • PC

5

Another crack in the China-U.S. truce

Beijing announced new countermeasures against Washington while warning that further U.S. restrictions could provoke a stronger response

Aug 8 • PC

8

2

China's Politburo stays the course

Beijing signaled policy continuity while offering no major stimulus, as tensions with Washington continue to test the fragile U.S.-China truce

Aug 1 • PC

2

1

July 2026

Disputes in the South China Sea, economic weakness, and U.S.-China AI talks

Welcome back to What’s Happening in China, your weekly China brief.

Jul 25 • PC

4

2

Trump accuses PRC of election interference, views of China improve globally, and growth slows

Plus, Xi promotes China's vision for a new global AI order

Jul 18 • PC

5

3

A missile test, China-Russia military cooperation, typhoon, tornadoes, and landslides

Welcome back to What’s Happening in China, your weekly China brief.

Jul 11 • PC

2

1

EU and China cool trade tensions

Following trade talks in Brussels, both sides agreed to continue negotiations and establish a joint monitoring mechanism, even as the EU keeps the…

Jul 4 • PC

2

2