Veteran analyst Li Cheng said signing a fourth China-US joint communique would be pointless and provide little value to the relationship [1, 2].

This perspective challenges the traditional use of high-level symbolic agreements to signal stability between the world's two largest economies. By arguing against a new communique, Cheng suggests that the current diplomatic approach is failing to address underlying tensions.

Cheng published his commentary on the Chinese news website Guancha.cn following a recent summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump [1, 2]. He said that the U.S. is not fully upholding its previous commitments, which renders a new symbolic statement ineffective for stabilizing the relationship [1, 2].

According to Cheng, the focus of the two nations should shift away from the prestige of joint declarations. He said, "The best way to build on the post‑summit reset is creating practical mechanisms, not symbolic statements" [2].

Cheng suggests that the lack of adherence to prior agreements makes further formal communiques a hollow exercise. Instead of pursuing a fourth document, he believes the two powers must establish concrete frameworks to manage their competition, and cooperation [1, 2].

This call for a shift in diplomatic strategy comes as both nations navigate a complex geopolitical landscape marked by economic friction and security concerns. Cheng's analysis emphasizes that stability requires action and accountability rather than the mere signing of papers [1, 2].

“Signing a fourth China-US joint communique would be pointless and add little value.”

The argument reflects a growing skepticism toward 'summit diplomacy' where broad agreements are signed but rarely enforced. By prioritizing 'practical mechanisms' over symbolic communiques, the focus shifts from public relations to operational stability, suggesting that the relationship has reached a stage where only tangible, verifiable steps can prevent further deterioration.