True multilateralism, as reflected in the UN Charter, is the foundation of a functional world order, which in turn yields peace and prosperity. The future is not necessarily gloomy, so long as nations, which face daunting challenges, can work together in a spirit of harmony.

It’s not a contest between America and China alone, or one pitting democracy against autocracy. Moves by the United States to hold China down affect other countries as well. Unlike the U.S., which is trying to protect its hegemony, China is committed to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

China and the U.S. share misguided illusions of the other that remain unproductive and even dangerous. Both governments must strive to see each other clearly and cooperate in the face of increasing public hostility.

As China-Russia cooperation has strengthened Chinese military might, divergences on some strategic issues between China and powerful countries have continued to widen. The latter’s perceptions of China have been seriously twisted.

Questions have arisen with the pandemic about who is responsible for what. The answer is simple and clear: National governments are the primary providers of assistance to their citizens.

An international order free of the United States is inconceivable in the long-term, but a tentative limited multilateralism excluding the world’s sole superpower may develop and exist for some time.

With a potential new confrontation looming between China and the United States, it’s clear that the ground has shifted from the Cold War era. The rules of a new cold war will not be set by the major powers alone.

Many analysts argue that the liberal international order ended with the rise of China and the election of US President Donald Trump. But if Joe Biden defeats Trump in November’s election, should he try to revive it? Probably not, but he must replace it.

The notion of persuading countries in an expanded G7 to adhere to the U.S. line for containing China has far too much working against it. The schism between America and Europe is only widening under the unpredictable impulses of the current U.S. president.

The impact of the pandemic on China and other countries will linger long after it ends. It will lead to a dramatic reshaping of the global landscape of supply and industrial chains and the entire order of world trade. The process has already begun.