Speeches by Xi Jinping and Joe Biden laid out their understanding of the international political order from the perspective of their own national history. Developed nations in the West may identify with the U.S. vision, while developing nations may find the Chinese vision more attractive.

“There is only one system in the world, and that is the international system with the United Nations at its core,” President Xi Jinping said. “There is only one order, and that is the international order based on international law.”

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”.

It’s not a contest between America and China alone, or one pitting democracy against autocracy. Moves by the United States to hold China down affect other countries as well. Unlike the U.S., which is trying to protect its hegemony, China is committed to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

China and the U.S. share misguided illusions of the other that remain unproductive and even dangerous. Both governments must strive to see each other clearly and cooperate in the face of increasing public hostility.

As China-Russia cooperation has strengthened Chinese military might, divergences on some strategic issues between China and powerful countries have continued to widen. The latter’s perceptions of China have been seriously twisted.

Questions have arisen with the pandemic about who is responsible for what. The answer is simple and clear: National governments are the primary providers of assistance to their citizens.

An international order free of the United States is inconceivable in the long-term, but a tentative limited multilateralism excluding the world’s sole superpower may develop and exist for some time.

With a potential new confrontation looming between China and the United States, it’s clear that the ground has shifted from the Cold War era. The rules of a new cold war will not be set by the major powers alone.

Many analysts argue that the liberal international order ended with the rise of China and the election of US President Donald Trump. But if Joe Biden defeats Trump in November’s election, should he try to revive it? Probably not, but he must replace it.