Abstract
How should we deal with China, in all its dimensions — global, regional, bilateral, multilateral, and domestic? Given everything else on the plate, the new president could well decide that the condition of U.S.-China relations is good enough for government work and defer the task of developing a comprehensive strategy for dealing with it. But that would be a mistake. China and our relations with it will determine a good deal of what happens in this century and how we fare in it. With this prospect in mind, let me return to the broader issue of U.S. objectives vis-a-vis China. I think these should be to ensure, to the extent possible, the following: (1) Americans benefit rather than suffer from China’s emergence as an economic great power; (2) China becomes a committed guardian and follower of good practices of global governance within a rule-bound international order favorable to American as well as Chinese interests; (3) China pulls with us rather than against us as we tackle global, regional, and transnational problems; (4) the Taiwan issue is resolved peacefully on terms acceptable to both sides of the Taiwan Strait; and (5) disputes, including those few remaining territorial issues that China has with its neighbors, are also resolved by peaceful means. The potential for partnership between the United States and China is great; the costs of antagonism are greater. China’s leaders have said on many occasions that they want a strategic partnership with America. To test whether that is possible, Americans must decide what we want from such a partnership and be constant in our pursuit of it.
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