ISLAMABAD: 29 Oct 2025: President Donald Trump's recent Asia tour is expected to culminate in a high-profile summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking a potential turning point in the enduring and complex US-China relationship that has long defined the geopolitical landscape of Asia.
China said that leader Xi Jinping and US President Donald
Trump will have "in depth" talks on "major issues"
Thursday, as expectations grew for their high-stakes talks in South Korea.
Trump has said he expected their first face-to-face meeting
of his second term to result in the United States lowering tariffs imposed on
China in relation to fentanyl.
Beijing confirmed the face-to-face meeting on the sidelines
of a summit of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), which is taking place
in the city of Gyeongju.
This bilateral dynamic has influenced regional power
balances for nearly a century, compelling major Asian states such as India and
Pakistan to navigate a delicate strategic terrain shaped by the rivalry and
cooperation between these two superpowers.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a regular news conference on Wednesday:
"We are willing to work together with the US side to ensure that this meeting yields positive outcomes, provides new guidance, and injects new momentum into the stable development of China-US relations."
Historically, the US-China relationship has oscillated
between phases of confrontation and engagement.
Since the normalization of ties in the 1970s, punctuated by
landmark moments like Nixon’s visit to China, the two powers have cooperated on
global issues yet also faced persistent disputes over trade, human rights,
Taiwan, and security concerns.
The Trump administration notably escalated tensions with a
trade war marked by tariffs and mutual economic restrictions, yet the recent
summit in Busan signals a mutual interest in easing these frictions through
dialogue on trade regulations, technology, and security.
For Asia, and South Asia in particular, this bilateral
relationship has shaped strategic calculations and alliances. India, for
example, has continually shifted its policies to strengthen ties with the US as
a counterbalance to China's growing regional assertiveness. This has led to
deepened US-India defense and economic cooperation, including agreements and
multilateral partnerships that aim to check China’s influence in the
Indo-Pacific.
Meanwhile, Pakistan faces a more complex balancing act, as
it remains a key Chinese ally deeply integrated economically and strategically
through projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), yet also
seeks to maintain longstanding, albeit sometimes strained, ties with the United
States.
The US-China rivalry thus complicates Pakistan’s diplomatic
options, overlapping with its regional security concerns involving India.
The strategic rivalry also extends into the military and
technological domains. The US has sought to fortify its alliances in the
Asia-Pacific, particularly with India, Japan, and Australia, as a means of
countering China’s military modernization and expansive ambitions.
This intensifies regional security dilemmas, where Pakistan
finds itself entwined in great power competition that reflects in defense
postures and intelligence dynamics. Furthermore, economic competition continues
to drive a form of decoupling, as the US pursues measures to reduce dependence
on Chinese manufacturing and technology, impacting regional supply chains and
economic interdependence.
As the decisions and signals coming out of the Busan meeting
unfold, Asia remains on edge about the implications. A de-escalation could ease
trade tensions and bring stability, benefiting regional economies, while any
resurgence of rivalry may intensify the push for regional alliances and
security pacts.
For Pakistan and others, navigating the shifting US-China
dynamics requires deft diplomacy and strategic foresight to safeguard national
interests amid one of the world’s most consequential geopolitical
relationships.
In sum, the US-China bilateral relationship continues to be
the axis around which much of Asia’s geopolitical issues revolve. Its evolving
nature will likely determine regional peace, economic growth, and the strategic
disposition of South Asian nations for years to come.
The summit in Busan, therefore, represents not just another
diplomatic engagement but a potential inflection point in shaping the future
contours of Asian geopolitics.
rightly said
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