US China

The contentious tone of the two sides' public comments suggested their private discussions will be even more rocky.

The Pew Research Center survey shows significant public support for China push-back, especially when it comes to human rights.

A government spokesperson said the move was "totally inconsistent with the U.S.'s own interests."

While the outlines of a longer-term competition have been cohering, there are also lingering uncertainties as to how this phase of U.S-China relations will evolve.

Despite the many headlines the concept has generated, the state of the conversation and its future prospects remain unclear.

The deal reveals Hanoi’s diplomatic acumen at negotiating past tensions relative to some of the other key Asian states in a similar environment.

The case of a pro-Nationalist propaganda network in the United States in the 1930s reinforces the fact that foreign interference in U.S. politics is far from new.

The dynamics at play at Asia’s premier security summit only reinforced existing regional worries that the divisions between Washington and Beijing are set to endure.

The subregion remains an interesting and important locus for competition on this front, and the battle is far from over.

The administration could be courting disaster if it relies too heavily on a punitive approach against Beijing.