Chinese President Xi Jinping undertook a three-day state visit to the United States from September 23 to 25, 2026. During this visit, Xi and US President Trump held discussions on several contentious issues such as trade, AI, market access, and Taiwan. This was the third meeting between the two leaders. Previously, they had met in Busan, South Korea, during the APEC summit in October 2025, and in Beijing during Trump’s visit to China in May 2026.
Outcome of Xi’s current US visit
Xi’s current visit to the US could be described as high on optics but low on substantive results. Trump welcomed the Chinese President at the airport and hosted a dinner in his honor. Both sides agreed to a eight point consensus, some of these issues are mentioned below:
1. Regarding trade, both countries merely extended the interim agreement reached in Busan (October 2025) by two months—until January 10, 2027. This agreement was set to expire on November 10, 2026. Under that agreement, the US had agreed to reduce the increased trade tariffs imposed on China. Conversely, China had agreed to purchase soybeans from the US, lift export restrictions on rare earth metals, and ban the export of chemicals used to manufacture the narcotic fentanyl. In addition, during this visit, both sides agreed to reduce tariff to the tune of $30 billion on reciprocal basis.
2. Differences in perspective regarding AI persisted. The US does not wish to impose restrictions on AI development, whereas China advocates for human-controlled and safe AI. However, under the consensus, both agreed to continue consultation.
3. On Iran issue, they agreed that Iran will not develop nuclear weapons and there will be no fee on the transit of ships from Hormuz. But it is not clear how they will implement this consensus without the participation of Iran.
4. Differences regarding Taiwan persist between the two. Xi has cautioned the US to tread carefully on the Taiwan issue, yet the US has made no commitment in this regard. However, it is worth noting that following his visit in May, Trump halted military supplies to Taiwan.
5. A divergence in their strategic perspectives also remains. While China advocates for strategic stability in their bilateral relationship, the US is more interested in the temporary management of differences.
6. Both sides have held back their strongest cards against each other. US strength lies in semiconductor technology, whereas China’s strength lies in its capacity to process rare-earth metals. No consensus was reached on this matter.
7. During his visit to China in May, the US President proposed the concept of a ‘G-2’ grouping, implying that China and the US are the world’s two superpowers and should jointly manage the global order. However, the G-2 idea has failed to gain traction due to the deep chasm of mistrust and differences between the two nations.
How does Xi’s visit to the US affect India?
Although countries like Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan are directly affected by shifts in US-China strategic relations, India is indirectly impacted by potential changes in the strategic dynamics between the two.
First and foremost, Trump’s repeated meetings with the Chinese President are boosting China’s morale. This could influence India’s strategic policy in the Indo-Pacific region. Although the concept of a ‘G-2’ is still in its nascent stage, when viewed in the context of Trump’s other policies regarding India, the US’s game of cat-and-mouse with China threatens to undermine India’s strategic position. Over the past year, Trump has taken several actions detrimental to India—such as imposing a 50 percent tariff, threatening an additional 100 percent duty on oil purchases from Russia, weakening the Quad, and strengthening strategic and political ties with Pakistan. In light of these past actions, potential shifts in US policy toward China—particularly in the Indo-Pacific region—impact India’s strategic standing. Most significantly, the US seeks to improve relations with both of India’s adversaries—Pakistan and China—simultaneously.
Image courtesy: Sunday Guardian
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