US-China Relations

Abstract

The relationship between the U.S. and China in contemporary era is the most consequential bilateral relationship in the world. Both states differ on fundamental norms and values, the U.S. advocates for democracy and liberal values while China prefers state ' s control over national affairs and ignores individual rights. With the projected rise of China and relative decline of the U.S. , global and regional power dynamics is changing. Increasing strategic competition and interdependence make both countries neither declared enemies nor pronounced friends. In this context, Pakistan being a non-NATO member and ally of the U.S. in the war against terrorism, and a close friend of China, faces challenges as well as opportunities. Though challenges are greater than opportunities. Pakistan needs to create opportunities to advance its national interests by taking balanced policy decisions in the competing relations of Washington and Beij ing in the region and beyond. This thesis attempts to find the diverging and converging interests between the U.S. and China, with each country's focus in the region that has made the South Asian region the concert of global politics. Both the U.S. and China want political stability in Pakistan, in addi tion, nuclear security, peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue, sea line security and counterterrorism are areas where Washington and Beijing share converging interests when it comes to Pakistan. On the other hand, areas of divergence between the U.S. and China in South Asia include: supporting opposite sides over nuclear cooperation; growing Indo-US strategic partnership; Sino-Pak growing ties and China's rising influence in the region and beyond. Pakistan should maintain ties with both the U.S. and China considering that the U.S. dominates South Asia militarily and China dominates economically. The chapter one deals with the nature of relations between the U.S . and China, chapter two illustrates how U.S. policies in Asia-Pacific region turned out and how regional states reacted. Chapter three reveals challenges and opportunities for Pakistan in emerging relations between Washington and Beijing. Chapter four determines the growing militarization in South Asia and contributions of both the U.S. and China and their engagements in the region. Finally it concludes that the cooperation between the two countries is essential for regional peace as well as for global peace. Any conflict between the two countries would bring harm to not only the South Asian region but it will affect the world at large, given the importance of the U.S. as super power and China as the rising power. Only cooperation is a win-win option for both the U.S. and China as well as the regional players.