Trump-Xi Beijing Summit 2026: Recalibrating Sino-US Regional Cooperation and Reshaping the Emerging International Order

Miao Di, Mohd Ikbal Mohd Huda, Sharifah Nursyahidah Syed Annuar

Abstract


The Trump-Xi Beijing Summit held in 2026 represents one of the most significant diplomatic engagements in the contemporary evolution of Sino–US relations. Following several years of escalating trade disputes, technological competition, strategic rivalry, and geopolitical tensions, the summit provided an opportunity for both governments to stabilize bilateral relations while managing growing competition within an increasingly fragmented international system. Rather than signalling a return to comprehensive strategic cooperation, the summit reflected a pragmatic attempt by both sides to establish mechanisms for managing competition, reducing the risks of economic disruption, and preserving limited areas of cooperation in issues of mutual interest. This article examines how the 2026 Trump–Xi Beijing Summit influences regional cooperation between China and the United States and evaluates its broader implications for the evolving international order. Rather than replacing globalization, this emerging order reflects a process of differentiated globalization in which economic openness increasingly varies according to national security priorities and technological sensitivities. The findings contribute to ongoing debates concerning great-power competition, international political economy, regional governance, and the future trajectory of the global order.

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/ebangi.2026.2303.20

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