Xi-Trump Talks Highlight China’s Push for Tech Independence
So, after the much-anticipated meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump in South Korea, everyone was waiting to see if there would be a breakthrough on semiconductors — one of the biggest sticking points in the US-China trade war. But interestingly, no concrete deal was made on that front, and that’s telling us something deeper about how both sides are playing this game.
Despite progress being made on a few other contentious issues — like tariff reductions, rare earth export controls, and even things like port fees and agricultural purchases — the absence of a semiconductor agreement seems to reflect China’s growing determination to cut its dependence on American technology. It’s a move that’s less about negotiation and more about long-term self-reliance.
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When Trump spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One after the talks, he mentioned that the two leaders “did discuss chips.” He even said China would be “talking to Nvidia and others about taking chips,” referring to Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia — the world’s top chip designer. Trump described the US as a kind of “referee” in those conversations, implying that Washington wouldn’t directly dictate the terms but would still oversee how things unfold.
But analysts are quick to point out that this apparent flexibility doesn’t signal a major policy shift from either side. Instead, it’s seen as a tactical pause — a way for both nations to manage their respective economic pressures without giving up too much ground. Junyu Tan, a regional economist for North Asia at Coface, explained that these concessions are more about managing vulnerabilities than resolving core tensions.
In the grand scheme, what we’re seeing is less of a diplomatic setback and more of a strategic repositioning. The US still wants to maintain control over advanced technology exports, while China seems increasingly determined to innovate its way out of reliance on American tech giants. So even though the talks were cordial and framed as “productive,” the unspoken reality is that the competition for technological dominance isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
This latest round of discussions, then, feels like another chapter in a long story — one where both superpowers are trying to balance diplomacy with determination, and where the race for tech independence is quietly shaping the future of global power.
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