The two countries already are working together behind the scenes. Michael Pillsbury, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute who advises the Trump administration on China, pointed to efforts underway by the American biotechnology companies Inovio Pharmaceuticals, GeoVax and Gilead Sciences to develop a coronavirus treatment in China, some in partnership with Chinese companies.
Hudson Institute analyst Michael Pillsbury, who informally advises Trump on China and trade, said he does not view Trump's stepped up rhetoric about the "Chinese virus" as signaling that the president is ready to dramatically escalate tensions with Beijing.