Xi Jinping says China "does not intend to pursue militarization" amid South China Sea concerns

At a 2015 Washington state visit, Xi Jinping tried to ease American worries about China’s ascent. With U.S. officials raising concerns such as navigation rights in the South and East China Seas, Xi told then-President Barack Obama that Beijing would address South China Sea disputes via talks and offered assurances about its military plans there. Now Xi is back in the U.S. capital for his first state visit in more than a decade, seeking stability while the two largest economies compete over technology, space, and international influence. The article notes that South China Sea tensions have grown alongside a larger Chinese military footprint. President Donald Trump is scheduled to greet Xi Wednesday evening at Joint Base Andrews.