What next?

The upcoming US election results in November will signal the direction of travel for US-China relations even more than the outcome of the pandemic

Democrat Joe Biden's campaign criticises Donald Trump's early responses to China over Covid-19 (at a time when it must be said that Trump was in line with WHO advice)

Donald Trump's campaign meanwhile criticises Biden's track record on China and also highlights Biden's early outcry at Trump for closing US borders to Chinese nationals – a call made by Trump before such an action was more widely recommended

Trump's 'America First' ethos seems like a genuine committment at all costs How this squares with trade and cooperation with another world power post-pandemic is what remains to be seen