In dealing with China—an economic powerhouse with a population of 1.4 billion—intimidation will not work. China will not be cowed into submission on its domestic affairs, such as Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Taiwan.

Economic and trade integration at the global and regional level has faced a strong headwind in recent years as the multilateral trade body—the World Trade Organization—is struggling to remain relevant in global trade architecture. Trade negotiations are stymied and appellate body, also the umpire of global trade rules, has been abandoned. Trump administration is continuously blocking the appointment of the judges in the appellate body and the new agendas of WTO reform are being pushed for providing the developed countries more space for maneuvering international trade rules for protection of their product and services.