While the leader who contributed to this historic summit, Trump, is still basking in his memories of the visit, international news outlets have offered differing interpretations of the outcome. The Straits Times argues both leaders won, while Newsweek and Reuters contend that Xi had the upper hand in the summit.
The Trump-Xi summit carries structural implications that transcend the immediate political calculus of who “won” or “lost”. It signifies the paradigm shift in global dynamics.
Put simply, the reality is that China has been subtly accepted as a superpower by the existing and only superpower, the United States, and 2026 may be remembered as the inflexion point marking the beginning of the end of the unipolar system.
The unipolar system we have long acknowledged found its footing after the disintegration of the Soviet Union in December 1991, establishing the United States as the sole superpower of the world.
The Soviet Union’s defeat demonstrated that...