Perhaps, United States and China strategic rivalry that encompasses geo economic tactics has made the world peace flimsy leading to unpredictability in the structure world order. The rise of China in the geo economic lens has transformed the world order from unipolarity to multipolarity, giving United States a bitter competition in the international political system. Amid the rise of the China, each regime change in U.S. had responded differently to the challenges posed by Chinese emergence.
In 2011, Obama administration publicised the foreign policy strategy “Pivot to Asia”. The policy engrossed the pivot in foreign policy – a response to Chinese advancement in military and economic influence in the Asia – Pacific region and likewise, balancing U.S military and economic influence in the region. U.S aimed to strengthen its alliance formation in the region for instance, south Korea, Japan and Australia. The policy focused on intensifying U.S. military presence in the region through increased naval assets, free trade agreement, and enlarged diplomatic engagement in the Asian region. On the receiving end, China welcomed U.S continued engagement in the region, however, it considered the policy as a restraint strategy to limit Chinese rise to global power.
Similarly, Trump administration persuaded a more confrontational approach which led to an intense Trade war between the two great powers turning the relationships between the two states much more complicated.
As of Biden administration, no denial, it continued much of the Trump administration’s policies but it sure did seek to engage with China over area’s concerning mutual interests. Biden administration has focused more on striking a balance in engagement with competition and cooperation.
In 2022, the leaders of the two world’s largest economy for the first time met in person on the side lines of G20 summit, seeking to managed differences between the two superpowers while competing for global influences within increased economic and security tensions. Biden alleged to manage differences between U.S and China, prevent any conflict and with mutual cooperation work on global issues at hand.
To work with mutual cooperation, the right course for U.S and China would first and foremost involve willingness to engage, from both sides. Through a dialogue finding common grounds to commit and respect for each other’s concerns and interests. To foster mutual cooperation U.S and China it is essential to respect each other’s sovereignty, expand economic ties by addressing trade imbalances with a constructive approach. Promoting regional stability through cooperative measures towards regional security issues in areas such as, Taiwan strait, South China sea, Korean peninsula involving joint military exercises and diplomatic initiatives. The two great powers can focus on areas of shared interests, promoting economic growth, addressing climate change, terrorism.
It is significant for U.S and China to understand and recognize that the two great powers have a shared responsibility in global stability and peace. The cooperative approach will not only help mitigate areas of confrontation between China and U.S but also help promote a sound and steady track for other nations to progress without the looming threat of rivalry and security tensions between the two great powers.
