Thanks Fred, for this nice summary of the Chinese readout from today's summit. If I may add, the framing of "constructive strategic stability" needs also to be understood as a response to the questions posed at the outset, and particularly the question of escaping the Thucydides Trap. This counterposition is central to understanding the significance of the agreement on the notion of "constructive strategic stability" because the TT concept is premised on an ontology of inter-state relations that stands in stark contrast to the ontology underpinning the four proposals - development, security, civilisation and governance. What has been advanced - even if in words alone for now - is the idea of inter-state relations that operates on a more Chinese-defined ontological foundation, in which interests are permanently intertwined. This conceptualisation transcends the dualism of the Thucydides Trap. Let's see how this plays out in practice.
A great tailoring lesson here. Notice how Xi’s suit is cut to his silhouette, which is geting a little chubby, while the other guy has all this extra cloth in the shoulders to make his bigger belly seem to disappear.
Thanks Fred, for this nice summary of the Chinese readout from today's summit. If I may add, the framing of "constructive strategic stability" needs also to be understood as a response to the questions posed at the outset, and particularly the question of escaping the Thucydides Trap. This counterposition is central to understanding the significance of the agreement on the notion of "constructive strategic stability" because the TT concept is premised on an ontology of inter-state relations that stands in stark contrast to the ontology underpinning the four proposals - development, security, civilisation and governance. What has been advanced - even if in words alone for now - is the idea of inter-state relations that operates on a more Chinese-defined ontological foundation, in which interests are permanently intertwined. This conceptualisation transcends the dualism of the Thucydides Trap. Let's see how this plays out in practice.
Great backgrounder! Many thanks.
Try to unwind the pentagon budget justification propaganda. Guess what? Depite what they’re saying on fox news, we’re winning! https://wavesandpositions.substack.com/p/the-xi-trump-summit-just-proved-america
While the U.S. is focused on Iran
China is playing a longer game.
As Washington gets pulled deeper into the Middle East crisis.
Beijing is quietly expanding influence across:
Asia
The Middle East
Energy networks
Military partnerships
This isn’t coincidence.
It’s strategy.
Analysts say China is using this moment to:
Strengthen alliances
Secure energy deals
Position itself as a “stable alternative”
While the U.S. is tied down.
uncomfortable truth:
Power isn’t just about reacting to crises.
It’s about using them.
The U.S. is managing instability.
China is leveraging it.
And that’s how global power shifts
Not in headlines.
But in focus.
A great tailoring lesson here. Notice how Xi’s suit is cut to his silhouette, which is geting a little chubby, while the other guy has all this extra cloth in the shoulders to make his bigger belly seem to disappear.
Xi sold China out