AI report shows China closing the gap with the US
Stanford HAI executive director Russell Wald discusses the 2026 AI Index report and China’s push to narrow the AI performance gap with the US on ‘Fox & Friends.’
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President Donald Trump is expected to meet with US Ambassador to China David Perdue on Tuesday, as the administration prepares for a major meeting between the US president and Chinese President Xi Jinping in May.
The talks are expected to focus on both rising tensions in the Middle East and broader US-China relations, as Washington weighs its approach to Beijing ahead of the summit.
The meeting comes shortly after the US introduced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, where China remains the biggest buyer of Iranian crude amid a dispute between the US, Iran and Israel.
The blockade risks drawing China directly into the conflict. Any attempt to enforce it against exports to China could spark a conflict between the world’s two largest economies.
President Donald Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Oct. 30, 2025 in Busan, South Korea. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
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“This will escalate the conflict, exacerbate tensions, undermine the already fragile ceasefire and further jeopardize passage through the Strait of Hormuz,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said of the blockade on Tuesday. “It’s a dangerous and irresponsible move.”
The meeting comes amid reports that China has supplied Iran with weapons, which Chinese officials have dismissed as “completely fabricated.” Trump has threatened China with 50% tariffs if reports are accurate.
Meanwhile, Washington and Beijing remain locked in a fragile tariff standoff.
After the 2025 hike reduced tariffs by more than 100% on both sides, the two countries agreed to a temporary deferral that reduced US duties on Chinese goods to about 30% and Chinese tariffs on US imports to about 10%. That deal is on hold until 2026, but key disputes over technology, market access and national security remain unresolved, with the two sides continuing talks ahead of a planned summit.
President Donald Trump is expected to meet with US Ambassador to China David Perdue on Tuesday, as the administration prepares for a major meeting between the US president and Chinese President Xi Jinping next month. (Megan Varner/Reuters)
The meeting comes shortly after the US introduced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, where China remains the biggest buyer of Iranian crude amid a dispute between the US, Iran and Israel. (Photos by Shady Alassar/Anadolu/Getty)
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The US has increased economic pressure over tariffs: the Trump administration has moved to remove a key loophole that allowed Chinese goods worth less than $800 to enter the US for free, a move that targets companies like Temu and Shein and affects millions of shipments.
Despite the rise in economic tensions, the US military posture towards China remains stagnant.
The Trump administration’s national security and defense strategies prioritize homeland security over overseas conflicts, as they identify China as the top long-term threat. Recent intelligence assessments have also downplayed the possibility of an imminent Chinese attack on Taiwan, with no definite military timeline, suggesting Washington is more focused on deterrence than preparing for direct conflict.
The White House could not be reached for comment on the purpose of the meeting.
