A year-long trade truce between China and the U.S. was reached at a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in late October in South Korea. The U.S. has lowered its tariffs on China, and China has promised to halt its export controls related to rare earths.

Japanese F-15 jets flanked by Liaoning-based Chinese J-15s experienced radar locking December 6, sparking strong protests from Tokyo as tensions surge post-Takaichi Taiwan remarks. Japan says no airspace violations,