Daniel R. DePetris

Jake Sullivan’s trip to Beijing was about managing tension and that’s the best that can be hoped for.

The Biden administration sees the upcoming summit as historic – China and North Korea may also, for different reasons.

The sudden and surprising demise of China’s foreign minister won’t change the systemic tensions in the relationship.

Xi’s belligerence prompts classic balancing, an alignment among smaller states that would alone struggle to compete.

The logistics pose a momentous challenge. And more so, Xi Jinping knows a war will entail enormous costs.

A minimalist approach based on arms control, risk reduction and deterrence is what’s needed right now on the Peninsula.