A change in America’s political leadership will bring challenges, but China is not as vulnerable as some say. Aggressive U.S. policies could push China to diversify its investments and explore new markets, while projecting itself as a stable and predictable power.

As the outgoing Biden administration gives way to the incoming Trump administration, Presidents Biden and Xi Jinping met in Lima, Peru for the final time as national leaders. The working summit meeting caps four years of turbulent relations between the two nations and governments. But despite tensions, the two sides have managed to successfully reestablish channels of intergovernmental communication that have served to stabilize the relationship to some extent.

Europe may be entering a quasi-competitive phase with the United States — no longer occupying the center of U.S. foreign policy. Rather, it will have to face Trump’s tendency to de-prioritize allies, which will likely add fuel to Europe’s drive toward strategic autonomy.

It’s likely that Washington’s sterile China policy will persist regardless of which candidate wins the U.S. presidential elections, a situation that could be detrimental for the entire global community.

No matter who wins on Nov. 5 — Kamala Harris or Donald Trump — the coming vote will impact the world. China and the United States have a shared responsibility to navigate the problems of climate, economic development and conflict, and constructive efforts on both sides will make all the difference. This essay explores some possible election outcomes that will affect China.

Israel’s Iran reprisals aren't over. A broader attack may ensue in cooperation with the United States, while the war-weary, ailing region would prefer to focus on economic development with China.

President Joe Biden recently hosted Quad leaders to celebrate their cooperation while raising concerns about rising tensions with China. Despite initiatives aimed at countering China's influence, India's growing assertiveness may lead it to distance itself from the Quad, creating uncertainties about the alliance's future amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.

Other than a few glib remarks, surprisingly little was said about China at this month’s US presidential debate. Former President Donald Trump asserted that his proposed import tariffs would punish “China and all of the countries that have been ripping us off for years.” Vice President Kamala Harris, for her part, disparaged China’s pandemic response, stating that President Xi Jinping “was responsible for lacking and not giving us transparency about the origins of COVID.”

If both sides maintain a rational and pragmatic understanding of each other and continue on a path of patient, stable communication — looking for opportunities to close seemingly impossible gaps — then a positive outcome is still in the game.

As U.S.-China relations face mounting tension and uncertainty, reflecting on the early days of cultural exchange in the 1980s reveals a simpler time of optimism, goodwill, and mutual curiosity. While today's challenges are formidable, the shared experiences of those who helped build these ties offer a reminder that, even in times of difficulty, there remains potential for collaboration and understanding.