Although it’s still early, China is referenced heavily in political rhetoric and is a top target of candidates. Washington is suffused with an atmosphere geopolitical contention. Distorted images of China and emerging hawkish policies have undermined goodwill in bilateral relations. China needs to prepare for any outcome in November.

When US Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently visited Beijing in an effort to stabilize relations with China, many of the issues that he discussed with Chinese President Xi Jinping were highly contentious. For example, Blinken warned China against providing materials and technology to aid Russia in its war against Ukraine, and he objected to China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea and harassment of the Philippines (a United States ally). Other disputes concerned interpretations of America’s “one-China” policy toward Taiwan, and US trade and export controls on the flow of technology to China.

Despite its name, the new Washington Consensus has the adverse effect of impeding the formation of real consensus because of its underlying zero-sum mindset. It is simply an instrument for the United States to maintain its hegemony in the world arena, and that is destructive to the international order.

When discussing the global order and China's foreign policy, we must examine how China adapts its foreign policy to changes in the global order. There is a debate on whether we are returning to a Cold War-like situation. Many believe we are, drawing parallels between the current U.S.-China competition and the former U.S.-Soviet rivalry, which shaped the international power structure.

There is an urgent need for China and India to prioritize dialogue, establish baseline agreements, and avoid inflammatory rhetoric to prevent further deterioration in bilateral relations.

The protracted conflict may force the U.S. president to alienate Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu to the point of jeopardizing the special relationship, thereby causing powerful Jewish voters and lobbies to withdraw their support. Other traditional Democratic constituencies, such as Muslim-Americans, may follow suit.

With Donald Trump making another run for the White House and the possible disruptions his election could bring, it is sensible for Germany to enhance win-win cooperation with China and push for the strategic enhancement of China-EU relations.

The youth will be crucial for President Joe Biden’s bid for re-election, as it was in 2020. But Biden’s continued support for Israel is cooling their ardor. To make matters worse, support for Biden among Muslim-Americans — a key voting bloc in some swing states — has taken a nosedive.

Talking, even through hard times, is not only necessary but also meaningful, because the audience is wider than just the two participants. People are listening at the bilateral, regional and global levels.

A victory by Donald Trump is an ugly prospect that most of the world shudders to contemplate. We’re not betting he’ll win in 2024 but are simply acknowledging that it’s possible and that instability is likely to follow. China cannot afford to wait until the last minute before taking action.