Legitimate reasons exists for the disputes between China and the U.S. But constructive dialogue, and analytically-based assessments are needed to avoid risks such as a trade war, and to foster the advantages that further integration can bring to both countries.

More than anything, conflict should be addressed in a rules-based framework — with a focus on economic, technocratic, constructive elements — not a “political tit-for-tat.”

China’s opening-up is the cornerstone of the country’s rise over the last 40 years. Looking at this reform historically, we see examples of China turning tensions and challenges into sources of renewed thrust for further development. It is under this wider, historical scope that we can better understand both China’s path forward and its relations with the U.S.