Trump Calls Xi Meeting “12/10” Amid New US-China Trade Moves| What’s Next For US-China Ties?

In a conversation with The Mojo Story’s Afarik Iqbal, Lt. Gen. Raj Shukla and former Ambassador Veena Sikri analyzed the meeting’s mixed signals. Gen. Shukla described Trump’s 12-out-of-10 rating for the Xi meeting as “weird but telling,” noting trade concessions on fentanyl and rare earths hint at short-term deals, while deeper issues like Taiwan, TikTok, and technology remain unresolved.

Ambassador Sikri called the meeting premature, pointing out there was no joint document or firm commitments—only talk. She noted Xi’s composed demeanor contrasted with Trump’s visible unease, suggesting Beijing’s upper hand. For India, both experts said, Trump’s balancing act between New Delhi and Beijing signals shifting American priorities, where India must focus on building its own economic and strategic capacities.

Concluding the debate, Afarik Iqbal observed that Trump’s unpredictable diplomacy continues to reshape global alignments—sometimes thrilling, often alarming—but impossible to ignore.