As London dispatches Prime Minister Keir Starmer to Beijing with a business entourage, vowing a "clear-eyed" approach to national security, the symbolism is hard to miss. Europe is hedging: away from American tech, not necessarily toward Chinese tech—but toward strategic room to maneuver if Washington under President Donald Trump turns hostile.

The U.S. is taking a minority stake in an Oklahoma rare earth miner, the latest government investment in the sector as it seeks to minimize its reliance on imports of a material used prevalently in smartphones,

Strategic ambiguity has certain domestic political advantages for Mr. Trump as well. China policy is one of the few areas where Republicans in Congress have found a tremulous voice to criticize the administration, reproaching its softer moves toward Beijing. Ambiguity keeps them hoping for a turn back to hard-line moves.

The president’s very personal approach to diplomacy poses real threats to American security.

President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened to slap 100% tariffs on Canadian imports if America’s second-biggest trading partner makes a trade deal with China.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Wednesday that his country doesn't have to choose between relations with the United States and China as he started a four-day trip to China aimed at repairing ties and expanding opportunities for British companies in the world’s second-largest economy.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday for talks he hopes will deepen their economic relationship, signalling a breakthrough in ties after years of distrust and acrimony.

America’s postwar allies are weighing closer ties to Beijing as they scour the globe for alternative markets.