Almost immediately, the Chinese cyber theft that had ravaged American businesses over the previous decade plummeted. Security firms reported a 90 percent dropoff in Chinese industrial cyberattacks. For eighteen months, the world’s first cyberarms-control agreement appeared to stick. As ballet dancer Misty Copeland performed for the Chinese delegation and singer Ne-Yo belted out “Because of You” that evening in September, the Chinese leader smiled and clapped. Xi appeared genuine. But then came Trump, who turned the table over with tariffs and the trade war. If it weren’t for that, some
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