China’s somewhat surprising petition to join the CPTPP presents serious challenges to the U.S.’s position in the region, and perhaps just as importantly, creates economic opportunity for China.

The creation of AUKUS is being criticized by many as an instigation on the part of the U.S. and the U.K., with third parties in Asia as well as Europe deeply troubled by its announcement.

It is natural for Japan, the world’s third-largest economy, to provide leadership in global economic governance. But preventing a repeat of its failure with the Kyoto Protocol requires it to abandon its U.S.-centrism and its fealty to certain myths of the CPTPP.

China’s joining the free trade agreement would provide a powerful economic boost to the Asia-Pacific region and the world. It should be cheered on, but Washington — obsessed with containing China — may yet block its bid.

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.

2021 has shown how the EU will seek to maintain a competitive and cooperative relationship with China amidst tensions between the U.S. and China.

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.

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 U.S. president’s hands are tied by Democrats’ slim majority in Congress, and Republican are piling on the pressure ahead of elections. So it will be tough for the U.S. to change its policy course anytime soon, so long as those in policymaking circles stick to their views.

Maintaining the old zero-sum mentality against China, the United States starts with its own interests in mind, rather than the needs of the island nations. Its diplomatic and military focus will not contribute to development and will ultimately fail.