The new year does not look promising for an understanding on Korean issues as U.S.-China tensions persist. Stronger cooperation and coordination is needed to ensure certain peace and stability.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi went to Africa, as is customary. But he also visited two Asian countries, a choice that signals China’s desire to break the U.S. attempt at containment.

Given their mutual economic dependence, both China and the U.S. know they must manage relations. Nobody wants a new cold war. Rational countries are unwilling to choose sides, and there is great pressure for accommodation.

On the 50th anniversary of the Shanghai Communique regarding Taiwan, it’s clear the United States has begun playing a dangerous game, modifying its discourse. It should be cautious.

Repairing and protecting American hegemony is a central theme for the White House and Congress. To accomplish these goals they need to create the specter of an enemy at the gates, to imagine an adversary that poses an existential threat.

What should be China’s view? It should avoid competition for its own sake and avoid rhetorical pitfalls. It should also consider historical context and the needs of humanity as a whole. Competition should be managed, not malicious.

Germany’s newly minted Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is laying shaky foundation with China by framing relations as a values-based competition with an “authoritarian regime.” She might want to take economic reality into account.

China and the United States must take the opportunity to move relations forward following the Xi-Biden virtual meeting in November. A healthy future will be discovered through frank dialogue, sincere exchanges and taking advantage of every small but concrete commitment.

The struggle between the U.S. and China has lost nearly all pretense of courtesy, as the Olympic Games in Beijing pull closer while American officials push themselves and their allies away. The current situation leaves little room for reconciliation without a change in attitude from government leaders.

Mutual unfavourability between the populaces of China and the United States are on the rise, but a moratorium to Sino-American hostility at large cannot occur without efforts from citizens of both countries.