U.S.-China relations deteriorate with limited options.

US-China relations have worsened, with no sign of a Biden-Xi call despite diplomatic efforts. Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen's upcoming stopovers in the US have further complicated matters. Some experts suggest a tougher line against China, while others warn that Xi may be emboldened after his meetings with Putin and a Saudi-Iranian rapprochement. The window for a Biden-Xi call may be "slow to open and quick to close," according to a former top US diplomat for East Asia.