Sino-US relations are not only tense, but dangerously rigid — in the US, a “tough on China” or even Cold War attitude is now the norm. To avoid a worst-case scenario of confrontation, both sides need to conduct urgently needed repairs to their neglected mutual ties.

The trade war is only the latest twist in a tangled China-US relationship. For the two sides to find common ground, the US must accept China’s rise to superpower status on an equal footing, and China should acknowledge the post-World War II order that the US built.

In recent years, China has shown restraint and cooperation in working with America. But US leaders must realize that China’s history of resisting external pressure means it will never abandon its development path to please another country.

The US-China rivalry constitutes a new formidable challenge to Southeast Asia’s cohesion, so they should continue to engage all powers and reinforce consensus among themselves.

While the United States bickers with allies in Europe and along its southern border, Russia and China agree on new economic and political partnerships which oppose global US hegemony.

President Xi’s state visit to Russia marks a new high-point for warming Sino-Russian ties. The joint statements released at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum call for even greater economic coordination to spur development, to match the political support that China and Russia have offered each other.

Sino-Russian relations today are closer than ever before, in the face of increased US pressure on both countries, particularly to contain China. While the two powers have stopped short of a formal military alliance, their cooperation seems set to strengthen despite US efforts.

Trump’s recent UK visit seemed to be a diplomatic success — but US-UK ties face serious tension. From concerns about Trump’s “America First” nationalism, to US demands on trade and technology policy, Anglo-American relations seem less “special” than ever before.

Whining about China and starting a unilateral trade war is not a winning strategy. If China stumbles, the world will tumble.

The Trump administration’s rash policies, combined with China’s persistent rise, have combined to grow Chinese influence and shrink the US footprint in the Asia-Pacific. But China must be sure to respect the interests of ASEAN countries and other regional stakeholders in crafting the norms and procedures for a new rules-based order in the region.