President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks in California, giving the impression of a new era of bilateral goodwill. However, it is important not to be fooled by this display, as intense competition and Mr. Xi's ambition to upend the U.S.-led international order remain.Both leaders have their reasons for appearing to get along at the moment. Mr. Xi needs foreign investment and export markets to counter China's slowing economy. He wants to avoid further economic sanctions and limits on technology sales. Meanwhile, President Biden aims to avoid another security crisis, wanting to put China on hold at least until his re-election next year. He particularly wants to prevent a crisis over Taiwan.Despite these motivations, it is essential to question the significance of verbal commitments considering the Chinese Communist Party's ideology and ambitions. China has made promises in the past without significant results. Biden's assertion that Xi is a dictator further strains relations, with China criticizing the comment as "extremely wrong and irresponsible political manipulation." The meeting did result in the restoration of military-to-military communication, a positive step forward, but the extent to which these commitments will matter in the long run remains uncertain.