From the Chinese perspective, the future international order is likely to see both continuity and change. Despite its flaws, it is better than any alternative. It’s time for world leaders to wake up and work together to defend and improve the system.

Up till now, the fighting has been going on for over 100 days, with the two warring sides still in an offensive and defensive stalemate. Questions about this ongoing crisis can be listed in a long line, most of which no one can answer at this time. Yet among all the uncertainties, one thing is certain: what the Russian troops crossed on February 24 was not simply the land border between Russia and Ukraine, but rather more symbolically, the River Rubicon of the post-cold war international order.

Differences over the rules for world affairs will not be resolved easily and won’t be resolved in favor the U.S. Countries are interdependent, and a divided world serves no one’s best interests.

The concept, introduced by President Xi Jinping, can inform China-U.S. cooperation. The two countries need to seek their common security — and that of the world — by evolving and developing together.

U.S. President Joe Biden often talks about leading the world. But if sanctions are what he meant, and if abusing the national security exception against WTO members is the means, the global economic system would be better off without America.

The domestic and foreign policies of the United States will both return to the pragmatic tradition, partly because of the diverse nature of the country. At the same time, pragmatic diplomacy in a pluralistic world will improve international relations.

Unlike Britain and the United States, China actually walks the walk of human rights. It doesn’t merely talk the talk. What the Chinese mainland has taught us is that the zero-COVID policy is the most effective solution for avoiding deaths.

This extremely difficult period could have included a terrible recession. Instead, we have seen growth around the world. Wealth is being created on a daily basis. What we need is better distribution wealth so that people have happier lives.

The main deficit on the geopolitical ledger is mutual strategic distrust. If this cannot be overcome, the world will be condemned — like Sisyphus in Greek mythology — to roll the boulder of a contentious U.S.-China relationship uphill for eternity.

There are and will continue to be differences between China and the United States. This is typical of humans, as any family knows. But the world needs China and the United States to be working together, marshaling and complementing their respective strengths.