Instead of accelerating, both Washington and Beijing have tacitly downshifted their confrontation to focus on internal issues. In the U.S., public fatigue and elite distraction pull attention inward; in China, economic troubles dominate. This means day‑to‑day signals (tariffs, app bans, industrial policy) may not map cleanly to a sustained great‑power contest in the near term.
— If domestic cycles can pause superpower competition, forecasts and policies premised on a straight‑line Cold War 2.0 need revision.
BeauHD
2025.09.15
60% relevant
Instead of escalation or an outright U.S. ban, both governments are coordinating a negotiated settlement on TikTok, with Treasury’s Scott Bessent and China’s Li Chenggang confirming a framework and Trump–Xi set to finalize—an instance of tactical de‑escalation through deal‑making.
Noah Smith
2025.08.18
100% relevant
Noah Smith writes that seven months into Trump’s term both sides have ‘mutually decided to pause’ rivalry—citing Trump’s opposition to TikTok divestment, criticism of U.S. industrial policy, and China’s economic focus.
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