Xi tells Trump the US-China Thucydides Trap can be avoided

In a meeting at the White House, Chinese President Xi Jinping referenced the Thucydides Trap, a theory that a rising power challenging an established one often leads to conflict. He asserted that the United States and China can avoid such a fate by keeping competition within limits and maintaining consistent military-to-military talks. Xi also urged the development of better crisis-communication channels to prevent accidental escalation.

The comment followed similar statements made in Beijing earlier in the year and came amid ongoing disputes over trade, artificial intelligence, and Taiwan. Scholars note the concept was popularized by Harvard political scientist Graham Allison, who found most historical cases ended in war, though the theory remains debated. Xi’s message was a diplomatic appeal rather than a sign that bilateral tensions have been resolved.