China-Us Militarized Interstate Disputes (2001-2022): The Escalation Of The Great Power Rivalry

Abstract

Since the late 1990s, studying great power rivalry based on the approach from militarized interstate disputes (MIDs) has become increasingly prevalent. Also since the beginning of the 21st century, the competitive relationship between the US and China, the two leading great powers in Indo-Pacific, has become a focal point of studies in international relations. The escalation of the conflict is apparent in the economic realm and expanding into the security realm. To prove the increase of MIDs in China-US relations is to shed light on the escalation of this great power rivalry. It is argued in this article that the two sides have obviously engaged in a great power strategic rivalry since Obama’s adjustment of policy priority towards Asia-Pacific. Militarized disputes become increasingly frequent, displaying forces is the regular way the two leading great powers compete with each other, and the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait are the two points of tension.