This has been an extraordinary summer of sports: from the Knicks to Wimbledon, and Spain’s win over Argentina at the World Cup. More than just a series of separate experiences, this festival of games has reminded me that rules and fair play are what make sport an arena of governed joy—and a spirit we might adopt as we re‑think U.S.–China relations.

Although the issue was absent from the headline highlights of the May 2026 U.S.-China summit, commitment to fentanyl cooperation may prove one of the most substantive areas of action under their agreed framework of “constructive strategic stability”. U.S. readouts from the summit recognise “progress in ending the flow of fentanyl precursors into the U.S.”, reflecting satisfaction with the implementation of an agreement reached at the November 2025 summit in Busan, South Korea. The bolstered cooperation between the two great powers will have a significant impact on drug control in Southeast Asia.

What matters most for China is not whether the United States is in decline but how to understand a country that seeks to shape history while being no longer willing to bear the costs under the old rules. The United States today stands at a historic crossroads. To understand, one must begin with this fundamental reality.

The conduct of the Trump administration seems to show that traditional methods of keeping up appearances of cordial relations are no longer in the playbook, threatening U.S. hegemony by sabotaging its own image.

U.S. core national interests are defined by the new administration as safeguarding American strength, promoting power sharing to U.S. advantage and upholding a stable and open international system.

Large gaps between ambassador appointments can cause significant challenges for the next diplomat. As the next U.S. ambassador sent to Beijing is determined, they should look to past successes like James Lilley to understand how to engage with China.

China-U.S. relations will not continue down the path of the Trump regime, nor will they return to the ways of Obama. Instead, the relationship will enter a long-term phase of competitive co-existence characterized by mutual dependence, where common interests will present opportunities for collaboration.

Confrontation can come from lack of understanding and a difference of emphasis. At bottom, the Chinese want to set up principles before trying to resolve specific problems, while the Americans are eager to address specifics before improving the relationship.