Xi-Trump Push for 'Stable Rivalry' Reshapes Global Power, Puts India on Watch

In a significant turn for global power dynamics, US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have just wrapped up a series of high-level meetings in Washington and Beijing, signaling a major effort to reset their tense relationship. The two leaders are pushing for a new era of 'constructive strategic stability' aimed at managing their rivalry without letting it spill into open conflict. This diplomatic push follows intense competition and is designed to find common ground, rather than a full friendship, between the world's two biggest economies. This pivot comes amidst fierce competition in critical areas like Artificial Intelligence and advanced semiconductors, where both nations are striving for dominance. China, in particular, has openly stated its goal to compete without confrontation, focusing on developing its own technological strengths while seeking stable international ties. However, underlying disagreements on issues such as Taiwan, trade tariffs, and access to critical minerals continue to challenge this fragile truce. The US has also used tools like export controls to slow China's tech progress, prompting China to focus more on self-reliance. For India, a key player in the Indo-Pacific, this evolving US-China equation demands careful attention. New Delhi is actively pursuing 'strategic autonomy,' aiming to navigate its relationships with both superpowers by de-risking from their individual pressures rather than choosing sides. The future effectiveness of groupings like the Quad, originally seen as a counter-balance to China, will now be tested as it adapts its focus from security to practical cooperation on supply chains and critical technologies, especially as a recent US law threatens tariffs on countries, including India, for purchasing Russian oil.