Cui Tiankai, the departing Chinese Ambassador to the U.S., said the two countries are at "critical crossroads" in their ties.

In their latest communiqué, NATO leaders declared that China presents “systemic challenges to the rules-based international order.” The response from China’s mission to the European Union was clear: “We will not present a ‘systemic challenge’ to anyone, but if someone wants to pose a ‘systemic challenge’ to us, we will not remain indifferent.” Such a tit-for-tat rhetoric is unnecessary, and most of the world’s population probably does not want it to escalate. Yet escalation is becoming more likely every day.

EU member nations have become increasingly aware of Chinese influence in the Eastern European region, which calls for a reorienting of their strategy in the Balkans.

Wide-ranging conversation may signal a U.S. intention to appease China. But the Biden administration apparently wants to avoid being seen as overly provocative, even as it adopts a competitive and confrontational stance on the real issues and creates diversions with others.

U.S. President Joe Biden’s general narrative of “democracy against autocracy” will not be accepted wholesale. Europe wants to avoid being dragged by the United States into a costly new cold war that’s driven by strategic autonomy.

The U.S. position on China has become increasingly antagonistic in recent years, but U.S. pressure is more likely to deepen Chinese hostility than it is to create productive reform.

The recently concluded G-7, U.S.-EU, and NATO Summits in Europe showed newfound coordination and common purpose vis-à-vis China. This represents a new and more confrontational stage in Sino-Western relations. China’s reactions to the joint communiqués were quick to condemn them. Expect heightened tensions between China and the West in the months ahead.

The United States does not neighbor China, but it exerts considerable influence on countries in East Asia. China hopes all will act in good faith to build an open and inclusive Asia that embraces peace, prosperity and win-win cooperation.

Three major matters underpin the future of China-U.S. relations. First, there is no such thing as a destiny of doom as presented in the concept of the Thucydides trap. On the contrary, the future of the Sino-U.S. relationship is largely up to both countries to assess, determine and choose.

China needs to a better job in responding to Western scolding. It may need to express discontent, or even anger, from time to time. But mostly it must be able to deliver a positive, vivid and appealing Chinese narrative.