While U.S. officials often view Central Asia through the lens of competition with China and Russia, it is important to the U.S. in its own right, and countries in the region have priorities that overlap with President Joe Biden’s agenda. The White House should capitalize on this with an historic visit.

China’s “wolf warrior” diplomacy may have backfired in Australia, Canada and France, but in a sign of its hardening attitude toward the West, Beijing is not backing down from its aggressive posture. Instead, more Chinese envoys are defying diplomatic norms and adopting belligerent tones welcomed at home.