As the world pivots to Asia, China has its own plans for this vast region and the world. Not satisfied with the options of either assimilating itself to the West or facing confrontation, Beijing is creating its own global system. CrossTalking with Douglas Paal, Daniel Wagner and Richard Weitz.

Caption
President Vladimir Putin holds a videocall with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Moscow on January 21, 2025. (Gavriil Grigorov/AFP via Getty Images)