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Revisiting US-China relations in 2025

Why ‘relative stability’ in US-China ties is unlikely to last

Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff shock in April revived fears of full decoupling. Photo: AFP

The Busan summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping on October 30 was a turning point. Photo: Reuters

Taiwan is seen as a potential flashpoint in the relationship. Photo: Reuters

The temperature has lowered after a downward spiral since Trump’s return to the White House, but relations may face ‘strong headwinds’ again.


Surviving the shocks: what China and the US learned from 2025’s trade war

Illustration: Davies Christian

Businesses and officials faced a year of disruption – and in some cases, resilience – as tariffs and export controls roiled global markets.


Why China’s rapid military build-up is ‘hardly the whole story’

Illustration: Henry Wong

Photos of what appeared to be a sixth-generation fighter jet on a test flight have circulated on social media. Photo: X/Rupprecht_A

The Type 075 landing helicopter dock is part of China’s naval build-up. Photo: Eugene Lee

The JL-1 is the world’s only long-range hypersonic missile that can carry nuclear warheads. Photo: AFP

The PLA has been moving fast to modernise its arsenal and warfare strategy, but it’s seen as ‘seriously deficient’ in some areas.


It has been a turbulent year for the fraught US-China relationship. In this new series, we look back at the events of 2025, examining how the trade war tested policymakers and firms, forcing a rethink in business, strategy and supply chains.


Series