The kindest take on the recently concluded US-China summit in Beijing was that the relationship has 'improved' from antagonism to direct engagement. That the meeting ended without acrimony was an achievement. The US has recalibrated its approach towards China, as confronting it has not helped. Reasons are likely a mix of a realisation that the Chinese have become too strong to intimidate, and that culturally they do not respond well to threats. China played the good host, and Xi Jinping signalled a conflict was not unavoidable, saying 'achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again can go hand in hand'.