U.S. Policy Towards China: From Cooperation to Competition
Abstract
The purpose of this research project is to examine the relationship between the United States and China from 2001 to 2017 to identify key drivers behind the shift from cooperation to more competition. This project utilized primary source documents such as memoirs, approved policies, and key speeches in the Bush and Obama administrations, as well as secondary sources such as journal articles and policy research reports. This thesis finds that the U.S. and China through both administrations were able to cooperate in areas of converging interests but struggled to cooperate in areas where interests diverged. Additionally, China's economic growth, military growth, and military modernization coupled with its more assertive posture in the South China Sea led the United States to increase its attention towards East and Southeast Asia. America's increased focus in Asia drove more competition between the United States and China, a trend that continued beyond the Obama administration and still poses a challenge to the U.S.-China relationship today.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1164975
Entities
People
- John J. Novotny
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School