Lawrence, S. V. (2012). US-China Relations: Policy Issues. DIANE Publishing.
US-China Relations: Policy Issues by Susan Lawrence is a book that provides a broad description of US-China relationships and their approaches to foreign policy over the previous decades. The author looks into the regional and global issues that encompass the relationship between the two nations and details the various strategies both countries have adopted over the years to promote positive developments. According to the author, the partnership between the US and China has resulted in significant benefits as they collaborate toward dealing with the global financial crisis, nuclear proliferation, and climate change (Lawrence, 2012). However, the author acknowledges that US-China relations had faced significant constraints, especially after 2010, when the two states started voicing their frustrations and openly expressing their concerns against each other.
The book provides a detailed examination of the Joint Statement intended to improve US-China bilateral partnerships and explains why some initiatives did not succeed as expected. Therefore, the book of relevant for the report as it provides reliable background information regarding US-China relations from a diplomatic perspective and identifies the causes of strain in the relationship. The author, Susan Lawrence, is a certified analyst in Asian affairs with years of experience, currently serving at the Congressional Research Service. Thus, the information provided in the book is credible and will play a significant role in informing the research.
Ross, R. S., & Jiang, C. (Eds.). (2020). Re-examining the Cold War: US-China Diplomacy, 1954–1973. BRILL.
Re-examining the Cold War by Ross and Jiang is a book that dives deep into US-China relations from 1954 to 1973. The author explains that initially, China was divided into the Sino-American and the Sino-Soviet states, thus restricting US ventures in the region. Since then, the US-China relationship has transverse through several stages to its final stage, normalizing their relationship. Nevertheless, the authors point out that the relationship between the US and China has only sometimes been harmonious (Ross & Jiang, 2020). During the 20th century, the countries occasionally clashed due to differences in their cultural traditions, social customs, and status in the international community.
The history and background of US-China relationships are critical for the report as they will help identify the foundations of issues that contribute to their discourse. Considering the history of these states informs policy recommendations as well and looks back at the initiatives that the countries implemented but did not yield results. Thus, it provides critical information to build up a strong argument. The book’s editors and authors are credible and reliable since they have written and published several other books and journal articles on global politics and US foreign relations in authoritative journals. Therefore, their knowledge and ideas are crucial to the report’s completion as they have years of experience and specialization in international relations.
Campbell, K. M., & Ratner, E. (2018). The China reckoning: How Beijing defied American expectations. Foreign Affairs, pp. 97, 60. Web.
The China Reckoning: How Beijing Defied American Expectations by Campbell and Ratner (2018) looks into US failures in their foreign policy approaches in China. The authors propose that the US has always sought to determine China’s course, but its ambitions often fall short. The authors mention that the US perceived China as a global threat during the 20th century. As a result, it changed the nation’s ways by deepening its diplomatic, commercial, and social ties with the country (Campbell & Ratner, 2018). Nevertheless, the US is yet to achieve molding China to its liking because the realities are far from what America expected.
The book sheds light on why the US decided to get involved in China’s affairs and the results of their initiatives. In addition, it explains the factors that led to China’s rise and the issues that created a wedge between China and the US. Therefore, it is essential for the project as it will provide information to comprehensively analyze the US-China case from a diplomatic angle and conceptualize the contributors of the unintended results. The authors have a strong background in US and Asian foreign affairs as they have served in various sectors of the US government’s foreign affairs and have garnered reliable information to guide their reasoning. Thus, the resource is valuable for the project’s completion.
Medeiros, E. S. (2019). The changing fundamentals of US-China relations. The Washington Quarterly, 42(3), 93-119. Web.
The journal article by Medeiros describes the changing dynamics of the US-China relationship. The author notes that the two countries are currently engaged in trade wars that will affect their relationship in the future even if resolved. Medeiros also points out that the institutional structure of US-China relations and the emergence of the Chinese as a global power contribute to their intense competition. However, the researcher claims several other factors contribute to the current tension (Medeiros, 2019). As a result, he breaks down these components into drivers, accelerants, buffers, and stabilizers. In the final section, the author provides policy recommendations to improve the relations between the two countries.
The United States and China have altered their foreign policies to accommodate their interests and the global environment several times. Therefore, the article by Medeiros is relevant for the report as it will inform the investigation of why these changes occurred, identify the factors that contributed to the current outcomes, and explain why the disputes have never escalated into a full-waged conflict. The information obtained from the article will help discuss why US initiatives did not go as planned and assist in designing practical recommendations to improve outcomes. The author is a professor, an experienced professional in East Asian affairs, and a senior advisor of the Asia Group, thus assuring his dependability and the credibility of the provided information.
Yan, X. (2010). The instability of China-US relations. The Chinese Journal of International Politics, 3(3), 263–292. Web.
Yan’s article looks at the unstable nature of the US-China relationship, suggesting that it occasionally takes 180-degree shifts with short collaboration periods followed by conflicts. The author describes the relationship between America and China as superficial because they pretend to be friends while harboring selfish interests. Additionally, he expounds on some of the treaties the US and China have signed over the years and their implications on the state’s relations in the modern era. According to Yan (2010), dialogues between leaders in the US and China play a significant role in stabilizing their associations. However, most of these agreements are short-lived and followed by disputes and sanctions.
Yan seeks to explain why the demands and expectations of the US and China rarely align and the issues that strain their relationship. Therefore, the researcher comprehensively analyzes associated issues and provides information critical to guiding the research discussion. Yan is a proficient Chinese political scientist and a distinguished professor at Tsinghua University, Institute of International Relations. Thus, he has commendable knowledge and experience in the field and is familiar with US-China relations issues. That being said, his opinions are credible and valuable for the discussion project.
Zhao, M. (2019). Is a new Cold War inevitable? Chinese perspectives on US-China strategic competition. The Chinese Journal of International Politics, 12(3), 371–394. Web.
The article by Zhao discusses the nature of the US-China relationship based on their strategic competition and offers a description of the Chinese perspective of this rivalry. According to the author, the increasing differences between the two countries are inevitable because China is slowly closing a power gap that once existed (Zhao, 2019). In other words, China’s advancement toward global primacy fuels a power struggle that could develop into a cold war. In addition, technological and economic improvements in both countries have shifted their focus toward the Western Pacific, thus contributing to occasional disputes due to ideological disagreements. Moreover, Zhao explains why pride and leadership contribute to unstable state relations.
The article journal broadly covers the critical aspects of China-US instability and provides a basis for the outcomes from a Chinese perspective. Therefore, the research will aid the report discussion as it breaks down valuable information from Chinese scholars and intensive studies of the factors that facilitate the strained relations. Minghao Zhao is a deputy Strategic Studies Chief at the China Center for Contemporary World Studies. In addition, he is an experienced professor at Tsinghua University, which assures his credibility and the reliability of the journal’s information.
Goldstein, A. (2013). First things first: The pressing danger of crisis instability in the US-China relations. International Security, 37(4), 49–89. Web.
Avery Goldstein’s article addresses the potentially harmful implications of the unstable relationship between the US and China. The author suggests that many researchers have forecasted the impact of China’s emergence as a US competitor but have yet to pay much attention to the depth of its reality. According to Goldstein (2013), a crisis is foreseeable shortly, but the long-term outcomes of the relationship depend on power shifts, national capabilities, and the countries’ interests. However, the researcher insists that a Sino-American dispute may be more dangerous and result in disastrous results than its cold war with Russia.
The article critically examines the current attributes of the US-China relationship, compares them with the factors associated with the Cold War, and hypothesizes the potential implications of escalations. Thus, the author investigates the mechanics involved in the instability from various angles, hence offering critical information for the report’s discussion. In addition, Goldstein is a Professor of Global Politics and International Relations at the University of Pennsylvania and a scholar with vast experience in global politics. In addition, his professional background has exposed him to historical and contemporary issues that characterize the China-US relationship, thus giving him an excellent position to offer credible, reliable, and relatable information to guide the discussion.
Zhao, S. (2015). A New Model of Big Power Relations? China-US strategic rivalry and balance of power in the Asia–Pacific. Journal of Contemporary China, 24(93), 377–397. Web.
Suisheng Zhao explores the causes of the strategic rivalry between China and the US and proposes a solution to avoid destructive outcomes. The author argues that the extensive power model adopted by the Chinese government challenges US primacy due to China’s increasing power in the Asia-Pacific region and its suspicion of US intentions. Zhao (2015) suggests that none of the countries can dominate the region requiring a strategy that prioritizes restraint and stabilizes the delicate balance of power to prevent their indifferences from escalating into a cold war. Since China is making continuous advancements and reinforcing its control of the region, a crisis might occur without appropriate diplomatic interventions.
The article by Zhao addresses the power struggle between the US and China in the Asia-Pacific, where the US has relations with other nations and occasionally engages with Taiwan and South Korea. In addition, he comprehensively describes the causes of their differences and forecasts their potential implications. Moreover, he offers a way forward to prevent a disaster. Thus, the article is essential to contributing valuable points and arguments to support concepts. Zhao is a Chinese politics professor at Josef Korbel School of International Studies in Denver. In addition, he has worked on several other studies in global politics, thus supporting his reliability.
Lieberthal, K., & Jisi, W. (2012). Addressing US-China strategic distrust (Vol. 4). Washington, DC: Brookings.
Addressing U.S.-China Strategic Distrust by Lieberthal and Jisi describe the US-China relationship as one guided by strategic distrust, a concept used to define suspicions regarding long-term intentions. The authors suggest that although the relations between China and the US have thrived and resulted in significant developments in both countries, their problem of not trusting each other contributes to several issues (Lieberthal & Jisi, 2012). Distrust makes it increasingly difficult for leaders to be confident of the other side’s intentions. In turn, it results in more distrust and embarking on self-centered interests that corrode the relationship. The authors propose that the two countries devise practical solutions to enhance their trust rather than establish an adversarial relationship.
The book by Lieberthal and Jisi evaluates the causes of distrust in China and the US from a Chinese and American perspective. Therefore, it provides concrete reasons why the two countries occasionally disagree and the factors that lead to their collision. Moreover, it offers recommendations on how to improve trust between the US and China. Hence, the book is relevant for the project discussion as it will inform various parts to build a reasonable argument. Its credibility is assured by the author’s vast field experience and peer reviews affirming its quality and validity.
Saunders, P. C. (2013). The rebalance to Asia: US-China relations and regional security. In Strategic Forum (No. 281, p. 1). National Defense University Press. Web.
The Rebalance to Asia: U.S.-China Relations and Regional Security by Philip Saunders sheds light on the diplomatic environment of the US and China, focusing on their power imbalance. According to the author, Beijing exhibits bold actions in its initiatives in the Asia-Pacific, leading to the question of whether its restraint would diminish with increased diplomatic, economic, and military capabilities. Saunders (2013) suggests that power imbalance contributes to strained relations and proposes that the US should engage China and cooperate with it on global and regional issues about nuclear control, global economic crisis, and climate change.
The article by Saunders is essential to the discussion because it focuses on the major concerns the US has with China’s increasing powers in the Asia-Pacific. In addition, it offers recommendations to restore balance through cooperation and accommodation. The author is the Director of the Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs and is well-informed in global politics and diplomatic relations. In addition, the author is a distinguished researcher at the Center for Strategic Research at the Institute for National Security Studies, thus confirming his ability to offer relevant and reliable information regarding the diplomatic relations between the US and China and the factors that result in constraints.