While the US and China have entered a new phase in their relationship, it is misleading to call it a new cold war. Both sides should find the requisite “bottoms” and “safety nets” that establish a framework that best suits the US-China cooperative rivalry.

Against the backdrop of a trade war and a global pandemic, the U.S. and China cannot afford war. It is in the best interest of both nations, and America’s allies, for the two to meet to better understand each other’s interests and priorities.

While the Pompeo-Yang summit was a welcome respite in an otherwise escalating great power conflict, the summit seems little more than a chance for each side to probe the other’s redlines on the myriad of issues on which they disagree.

The future of China-U.S. relations depends on efforts from both sides. But China needs to do more to communicate that it does not see America in decline, nor does it want a new Cold War.

There are many factors in play that work against a precipitous break in China-U.S. relations. The current fever of confrontation will break if the two countries adhere to a few bottom-line principles.

The prospect of confrontation without dialogue between China and the United States is unthinkable, even dangerous — especially during a pandemic. But unless something is done soon, that’s where things are heading.

It was not one lone decision that allowed the coronavirus to spread around the world, and the tit-for-tat game the U.S. and China seem to be playing is doing nothing to improve our current situation. The time for cooperation is now.

Past crises and the people who led the world in fighting them can offer us words of wisdom in solving the COVID-19 pandemic today.

With China-U.S. relations already on a downward trajectory, things are likely to get worse. The world is entering a period of heightened risk in the next six months.

China and the United States may find it difficult to get back to the level of relations they’ve had in the past, but they cannot get far on an irrational path.