The Kremlin is on a roll. Under President Vladimir Putin, Russia has replaced the United States in Syria, continues to intervene in Eastern Ukraine, and recently hosted an African summit in Sochi. Appearances, however, can be deceptive. True, Russia retains a vast nuclear arsenal, equal in size to that of the US, and it used force effectively against Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine in 2014; provided military assistance to save Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria; and has used cyber means to disrupt US and other elections. But Russia can only be an international spoiler. Behind the adventurism, it is a country in decline.

Signaling that it has less need for strategic cooperation with China on the world stage, the United States has rendered bilateral relations less resilient. And it’s hard to bridge the gap.

There’s a disconnect between the stance of America’s China policy elites and the views of the general public. Most people want cooperation, not major-power competition. The White House should face that reality.

China and India both recognize the need to address the issues in their respective countries and it is of mutual interest to incrementally get their relationship back on track.

On October 1, the People’s Republic of China celebrated the 70th anniversary of its founding with impressive military and civilian parades meant to showcase the extraordinary progress the country has made under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. Formidable challenges lie ahead. But China’s record so far, and the resources it has at its disposal, indicate that it may well be up to the task.

"On US-China Relations: A Conversation with C.H. Tung" is a new series by China-US Focus that features highlights of a conversation between Editor-at-Large James Chau and Tung Chee-hwa, Hong Kong's First Chief Executive.

US vice president reprises wide-ranging attack, indicating that structural divergences have yet to be resolved and critical pressure is about to be reached.

As during the Cold War, the US must ‘forge ahead’ by cultivating top-tier talent and preserving its central national security and geo-economic interests through expanded federal funding programs. Otherwise, Beijing will spend its way to global supremacy.

U.S.-China relations faces new obstacles as visa process and travels of diplomats are tightening.

To prevent countries’ interdependence from becoming a competitive weapon, countries should regard restraint and consensus as the hallmarks of a new framework in trade relations.