【明報專訊】THE virtual summit between the Sino-US leaders is an important step towards stabilising the relationship between the two countries. President Xi Jinping stressed the importance of peaceful coexistence, while US President Joe Biden said they have to ensure that the competition between the two powers does not veer into conflict. Though the rivalry between the nations remains fierce, the Sino-US relationship has entered a new stage and hopefully, predictability can at least be restored in their interactions, reducing the risks of war breaking out. However, the Taiwan problem is still a major concern. Amid the high tensions over the Taiwan Strait situation in recent months, Beijing has repeatedly slammed Taipei authorities for "relying on the US for independence" and claimed that some people in the US intend to "use Taiwan to contain China". It has also warned that whoever plays with fire will get burnt. Such a rhetoric is not anything new. But when the same words are spoken solemnly by the Chinese President himself to the US President, their weight and nature speak different volumes. Whether the new norm of a Sino-US "competition-collaboration relationship" could avoid descending into conflict and warfare will depend on whether the politicians in America and Taiwan know their place and when to stop.