Chinese perspectives on the US-China rivalry: navigating geo-economic and technological tensions in a new era of global statism

ABSTRACT How did geo-economic and technological competition between the United States and China arise? And what is the Chinese perspective on the US-China rivalry? In this forum article, we analyze the conflict from a critical political economy perspective. We argue that the US has mobilized its structural power as the leading high-tech country in global value chains to curtail China’s ascent. By elucidating Chinese responses to American structural power, we shed light on the development and complexities of this conflict, thereby contributing to a more profound comprehension of the US-China geo-economic competition. We conclude that the intensifying US-Chinese rivalry has the potential to foster a new era of public policies characterized by global statism.