Geopolitical tensions unleashed by the war in Ukraine continue to influence Sino-American relations and the reshaping of state relationships in Southeast Asia.

To me, an eternal optimist, the United States and China appear more and more likely to be on a collision course for war. Recent US regulatory actions amount to nothing less than an economic and technological declaration of war against China and its 1.4 billion people.

Presidents Xi Jinping and Joseph Biden met for over three hours in Bali in advance of the G-20 Summit. The discussion was another frank exchange that aired the differences between the two sides, and it also succeeded in establishing some more regularized working level exchanges between the two governments.

U.S.-China relations seemingly take place between two inevitable foes, descending each week over a multitude of rows ranging from economic to ideological. However, the imminent threat that each side believes the other to be is an exaggeration of manageable competition between two powerful and influential nations.

There are growing indications that Washington has embraced a new era of great power competition with China, and the recent security documents released by the Pentagon identified China as the most significant threat to America. But without a diplomatic breakthrough between the two nations, it’s possible the superpowers are heading towards a “New Cold War,” which is threatening decades of peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

With the terms “invest,” “align” and “compete,” America’s intent is clear — and it is not benign. The National Security Strategy does not hide the fact that the U.S. wants to suppress China and maintain its hegemony.

After nearly two years in office, the Biden administration recently published its National Security Strategy. The 48-page document covers the broad spectrum of national security and foreign policy challenges to the United States, prominently including the People’s Republic of China.

It’s clear that the United States is determined to win its competition with China. Therefore, China should prepare for greater pressure from the U.S. during what the newly released National Security Strategy calls the “decisive decade” ahead.

There are many imperfections and contradictions in the latest NSS. It’s hard enough to promote fairness and justice in the world, so how does one balance a strategy that puts U.S. interests and the well-being of Americans ahead of everyone else?

America may not be able to block China’s core momentum in the manufacture of high-end semiconductors, even with its suppressive CHIPS Act. Rather, the global semiconductor industry will inevitably divide into two parallel, competing systems.