Changing Dynamics of United States-China Relations (since 1989)

Abstract

The United States is today, the world's most powerful state in terms of economic and military power as well as soft power. The country best positioned to challenge the United States prominence globally and particularly in the Asia-Pacific region is the People's Republic of China (PRC). Although China has not reached the position of parity with the United States’ power, its rapid rise has profoundly transformed the US-China relations and made the bilateral relationship increasingly strategic and globally significant. It is also one of the most complex relationships that have ever existed between the two major powers. It is, therefore, vital to understand the complexities and dynamics of the relationship between these two giants. This article, therefore, is an overview of the changing dynamics of United States relations with China. It provides a historical context of the US-China interaction since 1989 and further examines the consequences of relationship between the United States and China. It explores both ups and downs, swift and shifts in the US-China relations. Moreover, it argues that in the course of the possibilities of power shift and increasing strategic rivalry between the United States and China, the relations would be in flux. Coexistence, cooperation, competition, and confrontation can be seen simultaneously between the two countries on the global stage, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.