The Diminishing Supply of International Public Goods
According to Brian Wong, Assistant Professor in Philosophy at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and Fellow at the Centre on Contemporary China and the World, global governance is increasingly constrained by three interconnected traps. The first trap identified involves a shrinking supply of international public goods as U.S. global leadership recedes.
Wong explains that these combined trends weaken the ability of states and international institutions to address major transnational challenges. These specific challenges include security issues, public health crises, climate change, and artificial intelligence development.
The article notes a direct link between the withdrawal or reduction of U.S. leadership in global affairs and the subsequent decline in available international public goods. This dynamic creates an environment where traditional mechanisms for cooperation are strained by resource scarcity at the state level.
A Crisis of Public Trust
The second trap described is a widespread crisis of public trust in governments and institutions globally. Wong states that this erosion of confidence complicates international engagement pertaining to critical geopolitical issues.
As part of his inquiry into what keeps him up at night regarding global geopolitics, the author notes that there exist plenty of challenges demanding robust pragmatism from both state and non-state actors. The loss of trust in established institutions is presented as a fundamental obstacle to solving these problems effectively.
The Impact on State Actors
Wong suggests that when public trust diminishes, the capacity for states to engage meaningfully with one another decreases. This lack of confidence undermines the foundational agreements necessary for managing security and health crises across borders.
Rapid Growth Outpaces Regulation
The third trap involves the rapid growth of AI firms, which is outpacing the development of effective regulatory frameworks. Wong highlights this as a critical issue in his analysis presented on June 24, 2026.
Specifically mentioned are concerns regarding artificial intelligence especially in socially impactful domains and potentially detrimental ways. The author notes that these technological advancements occur alongside spillover effects from great power rivalry.
Socially Impactful Domains
The research points to the precipitous advent of artificial intelligence as a primary concern for Wong. He emphasizes the need for regulation in areas where AI has significant social impact, noting that current frameworks are struggling to keep pace with technological velocity.
Wong argues that without effective regulation, these firms continue to expand their operations faster than international bodies can establish rules or oversight mechanisms. This imbalance contributes directly to the weakening of global governance structures.
The Interconnected Nature of These Traps
According to Wong, it is difficult for observers to answer what keeps experts up at night given the plethora of challenges confronting our world today. The list includes anthropogenic climate change and public health crises alongside technological risks.
The article asserts that these three traps are not isolated incidents but rather interconnected issues that collectively undermine state capacity. Wong writes from a position requiring both realism and pragmatism to address the spillover effects of great power rivalry.
Challenges Demanding Pragmatism
Wong notes that addressing these challenges requires robust pragmatism from all actors involved, whether they are states or non-state entities. The sheer volume of issues ranging from climate change to AI advancement demands a healthy dosage of realism.
The Role of Non-State Actors
In the context of global governance constraints, Wong emphasizes that solutions must involve both state and non-state actors. However, he suggests that current conditions make this collaboration more difficult due to the three identified traps limiting institutional effectiveness.
Non-state entities face a landscape where international public goods are scarce, trust in governing bodies is low, and regulatory frameworks for emerging technologies like AI remain inadequate. Wong's analysis implies that these factors create an environment hostile to effective global cooperation.
Geopolitical Implications
The publication on China-US Focus outlines how foreign policy decisions are influenced by these structural constraints. The article positions the weakening of international institutions as a direct result of the convergence of leadership withdrawal, trust deficits, and unregulated technological growth.
Wong's perspective is that global geopolitics today demands an understanding of why states struggle to tackle significant issues like security and public health when faced with these three specific traps. The analysis suggests that without addressing these root causes, international bodies will continue to face diminishing capacity.