As China-U.S. relations spiral downward, a crucial moment has been reached. The next five months will determine whether or not the relationship can be salvaged. If Trump is re-elected, the two countries may slide into irreversible confrontation.

Pompeo plans to meet a Chinese delegation at a U.S. military base in Hawaii this week to discuss bilateral ties.

In a new White House document, the “Strategic Approach to the People’s Republic of China”, the Trump administration accuses the Chinese Communist Party of exploitative economic and military tactics, which the U.S. plans to counter with a wide-range of means.

U.S. President Donald Trump has forced a series of actions that have undermined the confidence of America’s allies. Media accounts are replete with evidence of a philosophical split.

The notion of persuading countries in an expanded G7 to adhere to the U.S. line for containing China has far too much working against it. The schism between America and Europe is only widening under the unpredictable impulses of the current U.S. president.

China-U.S. relations must not be allowed to slide toward a new Cold War or even military conflict. The two countries, and the world at large, have too much to lose. If official cooperation is not achievable, then connections at other levels should take its place.

China is the unambiguous target as the United States shifts away from engagement to pure containment, even though economic logic suggests a more benign path would yield greater benefits.

The COVID-19 pandemic is the latest complication in a relationship that was already strained over trade issues. It remains to be seen whether the outbreak’s positive or negative effects will prevail in the future.

The outbreak of the coronavirus has changed some fundamental things in the world order. Post-pandemic global governance will likely feature significant fragmentation. And it could unfold in a variety of ways.

Bilateral tensions deteriorated further this week, as U.S. backlash continues to mount over Beijing.