Is the US-China relationship reaching a breaking point?

In his latest Quick Take, Ian Bremmer examines the stability of US-China relations and why he believes the period of relative calm between the two countries may be coming to an end.

After President Trump’s initial effort to pressure Beijing economically failed to force China to capitulate, the two countries have shifted toward a more cautious approach, with both sides working to limit confrontation and keep economic ties from deteriorating further.

But Ian warns that the biggest risks may now be coming from areas moving faster than traditional diplomacy, particularly AI, semiconductors and other advanced technologies. “The potential for a growing fight between the US and China, the likelihood that we’re going to have more decoupling between the US and China is going up and up and up,” he says.

With both countries racing to develop their own technology and mistrust continuing to grow, Ian warns that the current US-China entente may not be sustainable and that a breakdown could carry major economic and national security consequences.