China's New Leadership and Strategic Relations with the United States, Strategic Insights, v. 6, issue 9 (September 2005)

Abstract

China’s new leadership has been in office for more than three yearsâ€â€and during this time, China’s relations with the United States have received unprecedented international attention. While all share the view that this relationship is of unparalleled importance to the world as well as to both countries, people disagree as to how such a relationship is going to evolve. Optimists point at the growing interdependence and deepening of the relationship, and argue that the two countries will be able to manage their relationship in a rational and mutually beneficial manner. Pessimists call peoples’ attention to the so-called logic of great power politics, and assert that the two countries are destined to get into confrontation and conflicts.[1] Many factors will help shape the eventual outcome of the relationship. The way China’s new leadership appreciates and deals with the problem certainly matters. This article represents an attempt to discuss the approach of China’s new leadership to, and its take on, China’s strategic relations with the United States. It argues that, like its predecessors, China’s new leadership attaches great importance to China’s relations with the United Statesâ€â€and believes that it is in China’s interests to develop a constructive strategic partnership with the United States. Accordingly, it has carefully avoided measures that would jeopardize the relationship, and has sought every opportunity to improve it. In the meantime, however, it has also taken measures to hedge against the potential threat posed by the United States. China’s nuclear policy can only be understood within this context. This article will first discuss the broad strategic orientation of China’s new leadership. It will then discuss China’s nuclear policy. Finally, it will dwell on opportunities and challenges to Sino-American strategic cooperation.