China’s friction with the West has led to retaliatory economic jabs in going both directions, yet for all the posturing and saber-rattling, trade between China and its Western partners is not easily replaced.

Reassuring verbal messages from high levels in the United States government regarding China are nice to hear but are little more than public relations. American credibility is so poor that few believe such statements are sincere. Actions speak louder than words, and they tell a different story.

Scholars from China and around Southeast Asia respond to questions about how the region views the second push by the United States to identify the origins of the coronavirus.

China’s Belt and Road Initiative is clearly mapping out its ambitions for global influence challenging the primacy of the U.S. Now, Western allies have presented a B3W Partnership to challenge China with additional global infrastructure investment.

The Group of Seven’s (G7) fixation on China and Russia is problematic because member countries still have serious internal problems related to their domestic economies and income inequality.

The Group of Seven (G7) Leadership Summit held last June was stated to be an occasion for the Western leaders to “reestablish” the international order after the COVID-19 pandemic. It was also for the U.S. to demonstrate its return “back at the table”.

China has had major success in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis, which the U.S. and other Western countries are reluctant to admit. It must now remain levelheaded and modest, sustain its victory and keep the elbow room it has obtained in diplomacy and public opinion.

Dr. Anthony Fauci continues to diplomatically lead America through the Covid-19 pandemic, despite calls for his resignation and the defamation of his name.

When will the world have vaccinated 80% of all adults, the level presumed by scientists to produce herd immunity against COVID-19? Most people’s answer is 2023 or 2024, which suggests deep pessimism about the progress of vaccinations outside the rich world. That is also why pledges at the recent G7 summit to donate one billion doses to poor countries during this year and in 2022 look to some like generous game-changers.

A century ago, an influenza pandemic killed more people than died in World War I. Today, the COVID-19 pandemic has killed more Americans than died in all US wars since 1945. A big difference, however, is that science did not have a vaccine for the influenza virus back then, but now several companies and countries have created vaccines for COVID-19.