Sino-American relations

Sino-American relations refers to interstate relations between the United States and China. Most analysts have characterized present Sino-American relations as complex and multi-faceted, with the U.S. and the People's Republic of China (PRC) being neither allies nor enemies. At the same time, it is generally acknowledged that the nature of Sino-American relations will be a major factor in determining the state of the world in the 21st century.

Images and conceptions

Much of the complexity of Sino-American relations comes from the images that the two have of themselves and of the other.

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The Chinese see their national goal as a rich, powerful, and united China, with centuries of humiliation erased and some of its ancient glory restored. Americans see their national goal as bringing freedom and democracy to the world, and many within the United States see their country as the natural leader of the free world.

Related Topics:
Democracy - Free world

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Within mainland China, there is a love-hate relationship with the United States. On the one hand, American products and culture are seen as stylish and superior to local products. This accounts for the huge number of international students from China in the United States. At the same time, there is popular resentment of American meddling with other nations' affairs, which is mixed with a genuine fear of American power. The Chinese are often perplexed at the stated motives of American foreign policy and tend to conclude that these goals, (such as promoting freedom and democracy) are an insincere cover for darker motives, namely to keep China weak and divided. The Chinese are also often perplexed at how others could interpret Chinese foreign and domestic policies as threatening.

Related Topics:
Culture - International students - American foreign policy - Freedom - Democracy

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Americans tend to see China as a far off and distant land. Since the 19th century, there has been a missionary impulse in American dealings with China, and the United States often believes that as part of its mission to advance freedom and democracy, it has the duty to advance the cause of human rights in China. Over the past 150 years, Americans have also tended to see the Chinese people as oppressed and abused by either the Japanese in World War II and more recently by their own Communist government. Americans are often perplexed by the notion that many Chinese support the PRC government despite its authoritarian nature and are dismissive at the idea that the PRC government might do anything good. In addition, Americans also tend to be confused by the notion that people may find American criticism of human rights to be insincere and meddlesome.

Related Topics:
Missionary - Japan - World War II - Communist - Authoritarian

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Many in the United States, such as adherents of Neoconservatism and the blue team, view the possibility that China may eventually challenge American global dominance as an alarming outcome. Echoes of this suspicion have presented themselves in suspicion of trade with China.

Related Topics:
Neoconservatism - Blue team

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