Is the world on the precipice of a second cold war?

The rivalry could get out of hand, with dynamics in Washington and Beijing leading the world into a gratuitous confrontation between nuclear powers, writes Borzou Daragahi

The worst outcome would be to lazily slide into a de facto global war (Sputnik/AFP/Getty)

In the space of just one week, the influential American news and opinion outlet Foreign Policy published no less than six pieces demanding US and Western policymakers confront China more forcefully on human rights, shipping, finance, climate change, quantum computing, and microchips.

Just in case anyone missed the point, another called on Washington to create an “economic war council” to add a financial component to the military posture against China.

A new cold war is being thrust upon the world – one that could shape lives and nations for decades to come.