In their quest for absolute security, the two countries are sowing the seeds of disappointment. Because growth is necessary for economic security, any country that uses security as an excuse for trade protectionism will not achieve its desired competitiveness. This only harms innovation.

Overshadowed by U.S.-Sino friction, the 2022 election will be about the future of the Philippines. Old economic elites hope to undermine leading candidates and create a series of U.S.-Philippine military faits accompli before the vote.

The virtual summit between presidents Xi Jinping and Joe Biden began on a friendly note. But one can predict that the relationship between China and the United States may not go so smoothly in the future. There are likely to be storms and difficult struggles.

“The U.S. once held the Philippines as a colonial possession, but now finds itself having to win back the Southeast Asian nation’s good graces to counter a rising China.”

The dynamic nature of Middle Eastern geopolitics all but promises uncertainty and startling developments. Yet as China makes moves to deepen ties to the region, their agenda will surely cause friction with the U.S.’s partners in the Arab world.

While no major agreements were made during the latest summit between Presidents Xi and Biden, the meeting represented a refreshing commitment to high-level engagement between China and the United States.

By having their first direct bilateral face-to-face summit meeting, Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping tried to build a floor under the tense and deteriorating U.S.-China relationship, as well as to erect some “guardrails” for managing the competitive relationship. Both sides reported it as a positive step forward.

Xi-Biden virtual summit is considered a positive start.

Two presidents take a stand against a new cold war in a virtual summit. The old friends sought to renew relations and move forward — accepting competition but shunning conflict. How to achieve that is the big question.

That 10 months elapsed before a meeting was scheduled between Xi Jinping and Joe Biden — who had met frequently in the past — reflects the complexity of the bilateral relationship. But the recent virtual summit may have helped thaw the ice.