Trump Courts China's Leader Despite Tough Rhetoric
July 17, 2026·about 1 hour ago·via The New York Times

President Trump is pursuing a closer relationship with China's leadership even as his administration maintains hardline public messaging on Beijing. This diplomatic balancing act reflects the complex reality of great power competition - sometimes you need back-channel dialogue to advance American interests. The approach suggests Trump believes direct engagement with Chinese leadership serves US strategic objectives better than purely confrontational posturing. Read more about this...