US President Donald Trump's visit to China is being closely watched by the global public. The talks between the leaders of the two great powers, the US and China, contain important messages that could affect global balances. Chinese President Xi Jinping, in his statement to Trump, drew attention to the concept of the 'Thucydides Trap' taken from Ancient Greek history. This concept refers to the inevitability of conflict resulting from a rising power frightening the existing dominant power. According to analyses by American political scientist Graham Allison, while most similar situations have ended in war, some have been overcome with peaceful solutions.
While Xi Jinping emphasized the need to develop a new model in the relations between the two countries, the depth of economic and strategic competition stands out behind this visit. Trump's commercial moves towards the Chinese market and Xi's investments in energy and technology reveal different dimensions of this competition. Regional issues such as Taiwan and the South China Sea also stand out as other important elements of tension between the two countries. Experts are eagerly following whether this visit will mark a new era in US-China relations.