Some in India are advocate an American alliance to counter China. But such an alignment would be contrary to India’s founding principles of autonomy. It would also erode India’s standing in the BRICS and SCO groups and damage its relations with Russia.

The fallout of the AUKUS deal has the potential to alter the landscape of relationships in the Pacific region. By entering a nuclear arms deal with Australia, the U.S. and U.K. are applying pressure in the showdown between China and its Western counterparts.

China and Russia have spent over 20 years in direct partnership with many of Central Asia’s nations, and there the Taliban’s new government fits in is causing a major commotion at their cooperative table.

The new three-way alliance reflects a new U.S. orientation toward its partners as it seeks to raise barriers to China. Giving a $50 billion cold shoulder to France over nuclear submarine technology is just one example.

Spurred by their concern over Afghanistan-related developments as well as their alienation from the United States, China and Russia have intensified their joint military activities.

Though America and China’s governments see eye-to-eye on very little these days, cooperation in the scientific fields is possible and has been happening quietly for some time.

A Taliban-run Afghanistan poses some benefit to Beijing, particularly if they can maintain stability and steer clear of hostile agreements. And for better or worse, China has the opportunity to fill in gaps left by the fall of the U.S.-supported regime.

In a field where competition for science and technology, rule-making and dominance are natural, China and the United States have both conflicting a complementary interest. There is a lot of room for cooperation.

The transatlantic honeymoon is over. Europe is being forced, in its own best interests, to pursue greater strategic autonomy, since it is finding the United States to be a shaky and unreliable ally. Feeling exposed, Europe will look more toward providing for its own security.

Prominent scientists from renowned universities in the United States are raising their voices to protest the unfair persecution of their colleagues of Chinese origin by the U.S. Department of Justice. Xenophobia is not conducive to maintaining technical leadership.