**Xi Jinping Urges Closer Steering of U.S.-China Relations in Call with Trump**

In a crucial phone call with President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping used a maritime analogy to emphasize the delicate balance of the U.S.-China trade truce. Comparing their bilateral relationship to a large ship, Xi stressed the importance of both leaders acting as captains who must firmly grasp the rudder to maintain a steady course. He warned that allowing others to steer the ship could jeopardize the relationship between the two nations.

For weeks, the Trump administration had been eager for direct communication between Trump and Xi, a sentiment echoed by China’s acknowledgement that Xi had agreed to the call at Trump’s request. As the United States intensified its pressure on China through technology and other restrictions, analysts suggest that Beijing consented partly out of fear that hardliners within the Trump administration were disrupting the fragile truce.

During the 90-minute call, as outlined by the Chinese government, Xi highlighted the need for both leaders to avoid disturbances or sabotage that could harm their negotiations. Wu Xinbo, dean of the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai, commented on the situation, noting the urgency for leadership-level dialogue to stem the fast-moving deterioration of U.S.-China relations.

This call took place during a particularly sensitive time. The agreement to roll back tariffs for 90 days and work towards a trade deal between the two countries was less than a month old, but it seemed to be unraveling amid escalating punitive economic measures. The interaction between Trump and Xi was seen as a pivotal moment in an effort to preserve what remained of the tenuous trade truce.