China and the U.S. can create a kind of relationship that has never been seen before.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson holds a press briefing during the UN General Assembly in New York, US, Sept 20, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]US Secretary of State Rex

Just as changing circumstances have altered Russia’s relationship with the US, they have also altered its relationship with China.

After a friendly start, relations between the Trump administration and Russia soon soured. Will this relationship remain strained?

In his recent speech at the UN, President Donald Trump hinted at the future direction of US strategy. Here are the key takeaways.

Going forward, as Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa set forth a broad and compelling vision for the next ten years, that vision must be informed by the principles, purposes, associations and ambitions that guided them through their first decade of collaboration and partnership.

In any normal sense America has little to fear from the PRC. Even if Beijing desired to threaten the American homeland, conquer U.S. territories, or interdict American commerce, it has little ability to do so. What China seeks is to end Washington’s dominance along the former’s coast, an objective more defensive than offensive.

Since the election of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, pressuring China to curb North Korea’s nuclear program has become the pivot on which present U.S. policy toward China rests. Beyond this issue, however, U.S.-China relations need to be moved from crisis management to managed mode. On the U.S. side, the appointment of a point person at the White House with the authority to coordinate China policy across agencies is a critical step. However, it seems likely that President Trump will not alter his basic leadership style, and also probable that Beijing will be less tolerant of that style after the 19th Party Congress and his visit.

Both sides have stood down on Donglang, but China and India both have a lot to do to repair their strained relationship.

South Asia has been given a big role in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The countries there, however, show varying degrees of enthusiasm for the plan.