The United States and China in Power Transition - Strategic Studies ...

China Seas in peaceful ways? In addition to these socalled
nation-building imperatives, China also has
growing external interests in global economic, political,
cultural, and military affairs. What are China’s intentions?
What kind of a global power will China become?
What kind of a relationship will China develop
with the United States? How does the United States
maintain its leadership in world affairs and develop
a working relationship with China so that China can
join hands with the United States to shape the world
in constructive ways?
These are, in essence, questions pertaining to a
power transition ostensibly taking place between the
United States and China. Given that the United States
and China are two of the most powerful nations in the
world, these issues, as Obama rightly puts it, define
our times. A clear understanding of the power transition,
and especially China’s part in this process, is essential
for the leaders of these two great nations. This
analysis holds the following propositions. First, as a
result of its genuine development and the impact of
its expanding influence on the international system,
China and the United States are inescapably engaged
in a power transition process.
Second, the history of power transition is filled
with bloodshed; yet China and the United States are
willing to blaze a new path out of this deadly contest.
Third, although China and the United States have
exchanged goodwill for a peaceful future, the two nations
have nevertheless many difficult conflicts of interest
that are being further complicated by the power
transition process and, if not properly managed, can
force the two to wage unwanted war against each
other, hence repeating the history of power transition
tragedy.
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