The G20 Extraordinary Summit was a wake-up call for the international community. It was clear that coordinated policies and actions against the epidemic are needed worldwide — and that especially includes the world’s two major powers.

Will China and the United States be able to jointly lead a cooperative effort to stop the global epidemic? Don’t hold your breath.

The impact of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 has been severe. Just as pervasive has been the anti-Chinese rhetoric that has gradually overtaken the Trump administration’s dialogue with the American people and the resulting anti-Chinese sentiment that is putting many Asian Americans in danger.

The coronavirus has only deepened U.S.-China competition and could weaken America’s global standing if Washington continues to stubbornly adhere to “America first” and forgo its long-standing international leadership.

Long before the coronavirus outbreak, the number-crunchers were at work modeling various possibilities for shifting supply-chains. The epidemic has provided a preview of just how bad things can get.

Double trouble is headed our way if major countries fail to put aside their geopolitical squabbles and and work together, if only temporarily. The epidemic cannot be ended by one country acting on its own.

China-U.S. relations could turn for the worse when the epidemic passes. But there’s a glimmer of hope. If they take prompt action to ease the tension and cooperate in mitigating the health crisis, they can avoid what might be a devastating geopolitical conflict in the post-pandemic world.

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.