US Relations with China in Perspective

E ver since the communist victory and establishment of a People’s Republic (PRC) on the mainland, China has greatly influenced the basic tenor of American policies in Asia. For the United States, the fact of China going communist was indeed a traumatic experience as China had a special place in the American psyche. Historical links of trade, missionary activities, intellectual curiosity, extraterritoriality and war-time camaraderie had brought the US closest to China in Asia. These links disintegrated in the aftermath of the communist victory. Thus, besides the emotional reaction to the loss of China, the timing of such a fundamental change in China’s power structure was nothing short of a major catastrophe from the American point of view. It reinforced the American belief in an international communist conspiracy for global hegemony. Persistence of this belief was undoubtedly an important element in American attitude towards Communist China. This article attempts to examine the future trends in Sino-American relations in the light of their historical evolution and in the context of some of the major changes in the international system. It is suggested that the relations between the two countries during the last 20 years, represent a dynamic model of a bilateral relationship striving for an equilibrium rather than a static one; that the relationship which appears to be stalemated as a result of their mutually antagonistic attitudes and positions has not been so; and that a rather unique relationship has existed despite non-relations until very recently. Thus, since there is no real stalemate, a state of fluidity exists in which a change for the better is most likely. At this stage of analysis, it is important to identify the major elements of bilateral relations between the US and China and to examine the changes which are taking place in their various aspects. Thus, one can identify the following five issues which have been important in the evolution of Sino-American relations: 1) the question of Taiwan; 2) non-recognition of China and denial of UN membership to China; 3) containment of China through military alliance and trade embargo; 4) ideological confrontation; and 5) the war in Vietnam.