It remains to be seen just how important the issue of U.S.-China relations will be in the 2020 election, but the current Coronavirus pandemic sets Trump up to almost certainly be the beneficiary.

The G20 Extraordinary Summit was a wake-up call for the international community. It was clear that coordinated policies and actions against the epidemic are needed worldwide — and that especially includes the world’s two major powers.

Will China and the United States be able to jointly lead a cooperative effort to stop the global epidemic? Don’t hold your breath.

The impact of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 has been severe. Just as pervasive has been the anti-Chinese rhetoric that has gradually overtaken the Trump administration’s dialogue with the American people and the resulting anti-Chinese sentiment that is putting many Asian Americans in danger.

The coronavirus has only deepened U.S.-China competition and could weaken America’s global standing if Washington continues to stubbornly adhere to “America first” and forgo its long-standing international leadership.

China-U.S. relations could turn for the worse when the epidemic passes. But there’s a glimmer of hope. If they take prompt action to ease the tension and cooperate in mitigating the health crisis, they can avoid what might be a devastating geopolitical conflict in the post-pandemic world.

The U.S. has long reigned supreme in global finance, but a new challenger to its hegemony has emerged. China’s attempts to lessen its and the world’s dependency on the dollar and especially America’s willingness to abuse its stewardship of the global financial system have influenced a dangerous weaponization of financial networks that promises a rocky road ahead for both countries.

The United States has taken unfair advantage of the ongoing health emergency to damage China, but the strategy hasn’t worked. Cold War thinking has failed to resonate with U.S. allies, much less damage the Chinese economic and political regimes.

To credibly claim that its “America First” approach is not isolationism, the United States should avoid excluding China from the industrial chain. Global prosperity and stability be ensured only by staying connected.

From Obama to Trump, US policy towards China has not been productive. The current administration should follow a “humble” foreign policy and regain credibility on the world stage.