The New York Times reports, "The two 'misters' are among the most significant symbols of the complicated protocol around the historic meeting of the leaders. What the men call each other, what flags or symbols appear and even who reaches out to shake whose hand and how will all be parsed for meaning in relations between the two sides...For decades, the two sides called each other 'bandits,' each claiming to be the rightful government of China. Both believed "a legitimate government and a bandit cannot deal with each other face to face," said Xu Guoqi, a history professor at the University of Hong Kong. 'That principle applied in every category.'"

The Wall Street Journal, aboard the the USS Theodore Roosevelt reports, "U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter sent a blunt message to China on Thursday by joining the American aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt on patrol in the sensitive South China Sea: that the U.S. won't accept Chinese domination of the contested region. Mr. Carter appeared on the Theodore Roosevelt as it navigated some 200 miles from the southern tip of the disputed Spratly Islands. He sought to balance the American desire to maintain an open dialogue with the Chinese with the projection of American power in the region. 'The American approach to the security structure for Asia is an inclusive one, we're not trying to make divisions,' Mr. Carter said, standing beside an F-18 fighter jet in the hangar of the carrier. 'We want China to be part of the security system of Asia and not to stand apart from it.'"

The New York Times reports, "Foreign brands have put up with rampant counterfeiting in China for years, but at least one company appears to have found a fairy godmother. On Thursday, a Chinese government agency singled out the Walt Disney Company as the focus of a new nationwide 'special action' aimed at stamping out imitation goods that infringe on Disney's trademarks...The objective was to 'safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of consumers, promote a market environment of fair competition and uphold China's international image in protecting intellectual property rights,' the agency said. The push started last month, it added."