China and the US are playing nice for now but flashpoints remain. They must agree to peace | Bob Carr and Gareth Evans

Countries such as Australia should be alert to the worst-case scenario: a war with existential risks

The environment in the Asia-Pacific is less alarming than it was a year ago. Washington and Beijing are talking again. So are Canberra and Beijing.

The United States is focused, externally, on the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine war and, internally, on this year's presidential election. China is preoccupied with stabilising and energising its domestic economy.