With relations normalizing between China and Japan, it is critical to focus on the two countries’ mutual defense and security concerns. There are several measures both countries can take — including reinstating regular security consultations, coordinating defense communication mechanisms, and cooperating on crisis management and prevention — in order to instate basic safeguards for the region.

Though their G20 Osaka summit meeting made headlines for its positive signals, President Xi and President Trump still must address three key areas for policy coordination: mitigating the global impact of financial innovation, balancing their scientific and technological cooperation with their respective national security concerns, and addressing the trend towards weaponizing trade and international finance.

China, Russia, and the United States are in an interlocking trilateral dispute over whether to extend bilateral strategic nuclear arms control treaties between Moscow and Washington to China as well.

Despite reports that trade negotiations between China and the US have resumed, a seriously destabilizing trade war still simmers.

President Trump must convince US allies of his positions toward Iran, or risk appearing as an erratic rogue actor while China and Iran seek to preserve a familiar status quo.

ASEAN realizes that geopolitical and geostrategic shifts taking place in the region will usher in both rewards and risks. But while being opportunistic, ASEAN knows the stakes are high should unbridled rivalry play out.

At their Osaka meeting, Trump and Xi agreed to restart trade talks and work to improve US-China ties. Trump also stated he would add no additional tariffs to Chinese goods. The meeting demonstrates the continued importance of dispute management between the two economic powerhouses.

Multilateralism is currently facing its greatest downturn since the Great Depression, but the G20 may be best positioned to keep the liberal international order afloat. All eyes will be on President Trump and President Xi at the G20 Summit as the two leaders attempt to bring their escalating trade war to an end.

The US-China trade truce is welcome news, but far from a resolution. To overcome the various uncertainties and structural challenges within the US-China relationship, we should turn this truce to a longer-term effort to restore trust, normal economic relations, and a strengthening of multilateralism.

The stark present of Sino-US distrust is a far cry from the nostalgic past of China-US cooperation since the Nixon era. Nonetheless, China’s deepening domestic reforms and revised strategic outlook bode well for the future — but will the US get the message?