Until not too long ago, the common wisdom was that the United States would find a way to accept, and accommodate, China's rising power and global influence without rubbing up too sorely against the challenger. Now, you cannot be so sure and that gives the rest of Asia plenty to think about.

While the recent Trump administration announcements on tariffs and trade deficits got the most attention, it is getting clear that the militaristic-oriented US presidency on one side and strongman-ruled China on the other are guiding things along in a direction that bears careful watching.