"Relative Stability" in U.S.-China Ties Unlikely to Last

After a turbulent year, U.S.-China relations are ending 2025 on a fragile note following a late-year thaw at a leadership summit in Busan, South Korea, the South China Morning Post reported.

While tensions have temporarily subsided, the underlying relationship remains structurally adversarial.

The year saw escalations in rhetoric and retaliatory actions, beginning with President Trump’s tariff threats and calls for a “total decoupling” from China.

Analysts say the late-year easing was tactical rather than a return to engagement, reflecting domestic pressures and global imperatives pushing nations to hedge rather than pick sides.

While tensions have temporarily subsided, the underlying relationship remains structurally adversarial. Experts note that the U.S. and China continue to test the limits of coexistence, with broader implications for the future of the global political and economic order.