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What the Trump-Xi Summit Revealed, and Left Unsaid, About U.S.-China Tech Competition

CSIS | 2026-05-24 | tech

Topics: AI, China, Cybersecurity, Indo-Pacific, Middle East, Nuclear, Russia, Taiwan, Trade, United States

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English Summary

The Trump-Xi summit largely failed to address the structural tensions defining U.S.-China tech competition, which remains the most consequential dynamic. Key evidence shows that critical issues—including advanced semiconductor controls, AI safety, and sophisticated cyber infiltration (e.g., Volt Typhoon)—were only lightly discussed, despite the high-level diplomatic fanfare. Consequently, the analysis suggests that U.S. policy must pivot away from relying on diplomatic de-escalation and instead focus on robust domestic measures, such as enforcing data sovereignty and maintaining technological decoupling, to safeguard national security.

中文摘要

川普與習近平的峰會未能有效處理定義美中科技競爭的結構性緊張關係,而這仍是影響最深遠的動態。關鍵證據顯示,儘管舉行了高層次的外交盛會,但諸如先進半導體管制、人工智慧安全,以及複雜的網路滲透活動(例如 Volt Typhoon)等核心議題,僅被輕描淡寫地提及。因此,本分析提出,美國政策必須從依賴外交降級轉型,轉而著重於實施強健的國內措施,例如強制執行數據主權和維持技術脫鉤,以確保國家安全。

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