Trump’s approach, the Great American Comeback, has seen some success domestically but has been rocky in the international scene. Given persistent and emerging global threats, America First should not necessarily mean America alone.

The South China Sea has become even more hotly contested as Malaysia has begun to explore energy resources in areas previously claimed by Vietnam and China. The now-three-way naval standoff throws into uncertainty the future of the stability in the region.

If the coronavirus epidemic has any positive outcome, the greatly improved relations between the old enemies, even in the face of their long-festering disputes, must be placed at the top of the list.

Duterte’s decision to cut ties with the US exposes the Philippines to many geopolitical threats and represents a strategic victory for Beijing in the region.

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.

Iran fears accepting any American offer of help with the coronavirus epidemic because it believes its archenemy would not be sincere, but rather use any aid as leverage to undermine the regime. That fear is not unfounded.

In the wake of the novel coronavirus outbreak, China and Japan have embarked on an unexpected path of reciprocal generosity. While the deep-seated tensions across the East China Sea will not be resolved overnight, their collaboration provides a powerful lesson for other bilateral relationships that have succumbed to deep-seated hostility around the world.

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.

Many Americans say they want a moral foreign policy, but disagree on what that means. Using a three-dimensional scorecard encourages us to avoid simplistic answers and to look at the motives, means, and consequences of a US president’s actions.

Many factors are aligning to dim the future, but it’s important to keep trying. While the two rivals are stuck in a mode of competition, suspicion and hard bargaining, the cliff can still be avoided.