The fraught relationship between China and the United States will be put to another test soon when top officials meet in Beijing early next month amid heightened tensions in the South China Sea. The South China Morning Post reports that while the world’s two largest economies have a host of tough bilateral and global issues to address, China’s escalating maritime disputes with its neighbors, which have plunged regional diplomacy into stormy waters, look set to overshadow the annual strategic and economic dialogue. The priority at this year’s talks looks to be containing rising tensions to minimize the likelihood of miscalculations, accidents or serious disruptions in bilateral ties, while also maintaining a robust, high-level communication channel to ensure continued engagement.