Indian and Chinese troops have been locked in a standoff in Doka La – where the borders of Bhutan, China and India meet – for almost a month now, the longest such impasse between the two armies since 1962. And India is far from the only country that has been humiliated at the hands of China.

Japan still sees the US relationship as its diplomatic basis and top priority, especially in maintaining the stability of US-Japan alliance. But in the face of current uncertainties, it also is beginning to seek diversity in foreign affairs as a way to maximize Japan’s interests.

The danger that flows from Trump being an Active-Negative regarding U.S.-China relations is Trump’s propensity to take a wrecking-ball approach to past policies and approaches aimed toward maintaining a precarious regional stability. Yet now more than ever, the need to work well with China is critical given North Korea’s successful July 4th ICBM test.

Following a brief "honeymoon", trade emerges as a major point of friction, especially as the 100-day trade plan concludes on July 16th.

Europe is a long way from a common defense structure, but the need is growing. And, ironically, the unpopular Trump may prove more of a help than a hindrance.

Despite some hidden troubles in the relationship, by establishing effective channels of communication, prudently dealing with “provocations” and actively formulating an “agenda of cooperation”, Beijing and Washington have sustained a relationship that could have been swamped in uncertainties in the recent US transfer of power.

Only Washington can effectively narrow down the huge gap between the two sides and help them find an appropriate compromise that saves face for both rather than shifting all the responsibility onto others.

Put simply, President Trump thinks that Europe and other allies have profited too much at the US’ expense and that the US should stop being such a sucker. That view will shape trans-Atlantic relations for the duration of this presidency.

Both China and the US have begun to deliberate on ways of dealing with each other in the next few decades, and are willing to set a positive course for the future development of bilateral ties over the long term.

Graham Allison’s characterization of China being on a collision course with the United States, a condition he calls the “Thucydides Trap,” has been hotly debated in foreign policy circles. Jared McKinney examines the fault lines of a recent critique by Arthur Waldron, particularly taking issue with the historical evidence Waldron provides to argue that appeasement is more dangerous than measured conflict.