Chinese President Xi Jinping stated that he fully believes the Thucydides trap — the idea of inevitable war between the United States and China — can be avoided. Speaking with President Trump and Melania Trump seated behind him, Xi urged the two militaries to maintain regular dialogue and improve mechanisms for crisis communication and prevention. He declared that the Thucydides trap can be overcome and recalled how Chinese and American forces fought shoulder-to-shoulder during the Second World War, adding that neither people have forgotten that shared history. The remarks formed part of a broader message of unity during the ongoing state visit.

Following the comments, Trump and Xi are set to continue the visit with a drill platoon review scheduled next. Xi’s emphasis on dialogue and historical cooperation comes amid efforts to project stable ties while addressing sensitive topics. The statements have raised questions about how concrete the proposed crisis-prevention mechanisms will become, whether the show of unity will translate into lasting military confidence-building measures, and how the remainder of the summit will build on this tone of restrained optimism.