has the convening power or the leverage to perform this role unless the United States gets behind the effort. Third, while the day may come when China can build and lead an effective global coalition, that day is not here. Whatever its rhetoric about building a “Health Silk Road,” China has never built a global crisis coalition, in any sphere. The United States and China urgently have to do what neither does easily, which is to put the blame game and larger competition aside, identify their comparative strengths and join forces. Unless the United States exerts leadership to prevent Covid-19 from raging out of control abroad, the crisis will not end at home.

Source: International New York Times April 07, 2020 09:00 UTC