South China Morning Post

The Xi-Trump summit concluded without US export controls on semiconductors being a major talking point, according to the South China Morning Post. The omission is notable given that Washington's chip curbs on China have been one of the most contentious issues in bilateral trade and technology relations, and observers had expected the topic to feature prominently in the leaders' discussions.

Beijing has announced that the United States and China will work toward a military crisis-communication agreement, according to reporting by the South China Morning Post. The announcement signals continued efforts by the two powers to keep open channels of communication between their armed forces amid ongoing tensions over Taiwan, trade and security in the Indo-Pacific region.

Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, and US First Lady Melania Trump have opened a parallel channel in US-China diplomacy, according to a South China Morning Post report. The two first ladies' engagements and exchanges are being read as a soft-power complement to formal talks between their husbands, adding a personal dimension to an otherwise tense bilateral relationship.