During the initial meeting between President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on May 14, Xi called for a new global order of "constructive strategic stability," where both countries could meet global challenges together and bring greater stability to the world. 

In the Latin American and Caribbean region, it is evident that we are entering a new era in which the US and China will have to learn to coexist. Competition between these two countries is likely to arise, as they will both try to secure the best deals. This competition for trade, natural resources, and political influence could bring friction between the United States and China in the Latin American and Caribbean region. 

Taiwan was apparently the forefront of conversations between Trump and Xi. For Taiwan and China, the Latin America is a region of particular contention. Of the 12 countries that have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, seven are located in Latin America. However, since 2016, five countries in the region have ceased recognition of Taiwan in order to establish diplomatic relations with China. 

It is important for the US, China, and Latin American and Caribbean countries to have guidelines and strategies for navigating differences. Perhaps a cooperative framework that includes Latin American and Caribbean countries in negotiations between powers could be helpful. 

Moving forward, the US national security strategy toward the Western Hemisphere should recognize that coexistence with China is a structural reality. The United States should allocate the resources required to develop effective economic and political cooperation in the region.