China has sought to reinvent its image time-and-time again as it has grown - and its latest iteration features a healthy dose of fiery nationalism.

Among educated and internationally savvy Chinese, no current topic is more despised than the bickering over Chinese and American medal counts at the Tokyo Olympics. Narrow-minded nationalism holds scant interest for them, just as it does for most educated Americans – and, generally, for me. But, as an economist, I am not so dismissive toward the medal-count discussion.

The Biden administration has not yet revoked a rollover proclamation from the Trump administration which bans students from China to enter the United States.

The Olympics often seem to be preceded by political tension and drama; this and next year’s games in Asia are no different. Tokyo’s games got off to a rocky start, and now a group of U.S. lawmakers is calling for a boycott of the Beijing 2022 games. Will this destroy the Olympics or will the games unite us through conflict?

US Senator Marsha Blackburn expressed great dissatisfaction over Netflix’s decision to produce a movie based on the Chinese novel, “The Three-Body Problem”. In today’s hyper-vigilant atmosphere, Senator Blackburn’s reaction highlights the growing chasm between China and the United States.

The narrative on China’s influence is polarizing and provocative - is it based on fact or fiction?

At a ceremony marking the centennial of the CPC, China’s top leader reviewed the history of the Party and laid out a course for its journey ahead. The world was listening as he outlined the country’s core philosophy, goals and prospects.

China plans to send its first manned mission to Mars in 2033, paralleling U.S. ambitions to send a crew to the Red Planet in the 2030s.

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced his wish for China to take on a softer approach to the world surrounding it. That means dialling back their rhetoric and picking their non-negotiable issues wisely.

The problem of an aging society afflicts both China and the United States, and there is plenty of room for cooperation to address common interests. As the demographic trend continues, the impact on their respective agendas will only become more pronounced.