Washington’s recent wave of trade, tech and visa restrictions on China appears to be a deliberate push to build leverage ahead of the presidential summit in September, according to Chinese analysts.
However, they warn that such aggressive pressure tactics risk souring the political atmosphere ahead of the high-stakes meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.
The assessment comes as the two powers seek to establish a new framework of “constructive strategic stability”, in line with the agreement following the May Xi-Trump summit in Beijing.
On Thursday, Trump said plans were still on track for Xi’s visit to the White House on September 24, with AI expected to figure prominently in the talks.
Yet, underlying friction continues to build, driven by fresh US tech curbs and tariffs on major trading partners, including China.
Washington has moved to tighten exemptions for defence contractors procuring critical minerals from foreign adversaries. At the same time, officials have alleged that Chinese firms are illicitly using US artificial intelligence (AI) models to siphon intellectual property.
The US will also tighten restrictions on educational ties, by expanding a Pentagon blacklist barring more Chinese universities from receiving American military research funding.