Chinese policymakers are increasingly viewing the United States' retreat from global leadership as a strategic opportunity to expand Beijing's influence, according to Wu Xinbo, dean of the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University.
In an interview with the South China Morning Post, Wu argued that the Trump administration's "America First" doctrine, while aggressive in rhetoric, ultimately drives other nations toward China as a reliable partner.
This perspective frames the upcoming diplomatic engagement between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping not merely as a bilateral negotiation, but as a pivotal moment in the realignment of global power structures.
The analysis comes as prediction markets price in significant policy shifts during the Beijing summit.
Traders on platforms like Kalshi are betting that the meeting will yield concrete agreements, particularly regarding the escalating conflict in Iran.
While trade tensions and rare-earth export controls remain on the table, the immediate focus has shifted to geopolitical stability in the Middle East.