President Donald Trump's vow to pull back from climate-change efforts endangers one of the few areas where China and the U.S. have seen eye to eye, exacerbating tensions as he takes on more contentious subjects.
"There is a long history of countries that struggle to get along, using the subject of the environment to continue talking and build good will," said David Victor, co-chair of the Brookings Institution's foreign policy, energy security and climate initiative. "This is the equivalent of fathers and sons talking about sports."
The environment is central to U.S. relations around the globe, especially in China. Walking away from the climate table would threaten a key diplomatic channel, leaving Washington and Beijing with shrinking common ground as Trump hardens U.S. security and economic positions, including withdrawing from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership.