Into the Cold Peace: Tactical Calm in US-China Rivalry
The "structural rivalry" between the United States and China has entered a period of tactical quiescence. While the leaders' summit held in Busan, South Korea, may appear on the surface to be a futile attempt at détente, the very fact that Trump was compelled to sit at the negotiating table can be read as a significant conjunctural victory for China.
The "structural rivalry" between the United States and China has entered a period of tactical quiescence. While the leaders' summit held in Busan, South Korea, may appear on the surface to be a futile attempt at détente, the very fact that Trump was compelled to sit at the negotiating table can be read as a significant conjunctural victory for China.
The "G2" concept, articulated by Trump just prior to the summit, appears significant in terms of rhetorical shifts, yet arguably paints a picture of American desperation. The G2 notion implies parity between China and the United States on the global stage. However, it also conjures a vision of a new order where Europe is relegated to irrelevance, and major powers such as Japan and India are not even factored into the equation.
While appearing as an equal on the global stage may have satisfied Beijing’s appetite for prestige, China—a staunch advocate of a multipolar global order—will likely remain distant from this concept.
Although China’s deployment of the "rare earth elements" card caused shockwaves within the U.S. establishment, the construction of an aggressive foreign policy that refuses to back down is, in reality, a phenomenon that has been maturing on the other side of Asia for some time. As evidenced by the Taiwan crisis involving Japan, the approach known as "Wolf Warrior" diplomacy is deepening daily.
_jpeg_2025_22_12_b3702079-4965-4132-8c28-6f30c62c1513.jpeg "Defense, Security, and Intelligence Revolution: Technopolitics and Demopolitics")
_png_2026_1_6_a9dd1683-a8ec-49a5-93ab-12eaefc5f30b.png)
