The new arms race: analyzing Sino-US geo-strategic dynamics and implications for global security

Abstract

ABSTRACT The term ‘Arms Race’ describes the Cold War’s intricate geostrategic landscape, wherein the United States and Soviet Union were the principal contenders. The New Arms Race, in which China and the USA are major players, demonstrates the shifting dynamics of the global geostrategic landscape and symbolizes the current global geostrategic environment. This study, therefore, investigates the intricacies of the emerging Sino-U.S. arms race and how Xi Jinping's foreign policy and the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation influence China's military modernization. Considering China's recent military modernization, how has the US adapted its military modernization and strategic outlook to contain China? Furthermore, this study assesses President Trump's and Biden's diverse strategic outlooks in their approaches to China's military advancement and the geopolitical implications of the Sino-US Arms Race for global security and strategic stability. Moreover, this study highlights that a new bipolar world order analogous to the Cold War is emerging. The escalating New Arms Race will not only alter the regional balance of power but also encourage higher defense spending and strategic partnerships among like-minded nations, with consequences for the global arms control architecture.