Recent developments signal a potential thaw in U.S.-China space cooperation, as NASA’s outreach sparks cautious optimism but also draws sharp political criticism from China, highlighting both the promise and the challenges of collaboration amidst broader tensions.

The deteriorating situation in the South China Sea has many fearing escalations is on the horizon, and rather than de-escalating, the Philippines and China seem ready to let their maritime dispute spill over into other affairs.

The U.S. technology embargo has only energized Chinese scientists and engineers to create domestic alternatives. But it also hampers global innovation and will breed a variety of different — likely incompatible — technological systems and standards. This is a nightmare.

If the two countries were able to reach a consensus on peaceful cooperation in developing and using resources on Mars for the benefit of humanity, it would be good news indeed. However, this is unlikely. China-U.S. competition in space is nearly out of control already.

New international institutions, mechanisms and laws — as well as the reform and improvement of existing ones — should no longer be dominated by the West. The shaping of a new global order should be done through multilateral cooperation.

Once a spirited rivalry between the U.S. and Soviet Union, space exploration is now a two-way race between the U.S. and China. But initiatives like China’s Shenzhou program and the U.S.’ SpaceX, among other private industry programs, are challenging the duopoly that bureaucrats in Washington and Moscow once had on all space exploration.

NASA has made stellar achievements. But as cooperation both internally and internationally have decreased, among rocket launch setbacks, it may be time for the U.S. to look to China for advice.

China’s space program should not be underestimated, as it continues to match U.S. space station technological accomplishments and take on ambitious projects.

U.S.-Russia cooperation aboard the International Space Station is hopefully a glimpse of how two nations at an all-time-low in relations can still cooperate on shared interests. However, whether or not this may foreshadow a future for China and the U.S. in orbit is another question.

Beijing, Moscow, and Washington rarely get along - but in the orbit above Earth, the high-stakes and high-investments each nation holds there are a great motivator to come to terms on how to coexist.