The view that the Chinese leadership was desperate to negotiate a trade deal, to avoid economic pain that could destabilize Chinese society and threaten the Chinese Communist Party’s monopoly on power, is common among China hawks in the United States. This analysis is partly accurate, but it has led many to draw false conclusions.

Japan walks a diplomatic tightrope amid China-US trade war over Trump’s tariffs. Tokyo strengthens trade ties with Washington while reopening dialogue with Beijing. Read on for more details