The U.S. Will Get Tough With China... Eventually

Xi Jinping and Barack Obama will have a lot to talk about when the Chinese president makes his first state visit to Washington next week, which will take place between Xi’s tech-focused swing through Seattle and an appearance at the U.N. General Assembly in New York. Possible issues on the table for the two leaders include, but aren’t limited to, growing tensions over China’s claims in the South China Sea, growing animosity between China and U.S.-ally Japan, the nuclear truculence of China’s troublesome ally North Korea, U.S. accusations of Chinese cyberespionage, China’s own demands for the return of fugitive officials fleeing Xi’s corruption crackdown, action on carbon emissions ahead of key climate talks in December, and the highly uncertain state of the Chinese—and therefore the world’s—economy.