When a More Confident China Faces the United States: Misperception and Prospective
As China has gone from standing up to becoming rich, to becoming strong, a more confident China suddenly looms up ahead of the United States and beyond. For Washington, what was once seen as a moderate, humble China has come to seem increasingly more assertive, even aggressive. That has been especia...
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| Language: | English |
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World Scientific Publishing
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Chinese Journal of International Review |
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| Online Access: | https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/10.1142/S263053132550009X |
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| author | Chunpeng Liu Lianhe Wang |
| author_facet | Chunpeng Liu Lianhe Wang |
| author_sort | Chunpeng Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | As China has gone from standing up to becoming rich, to becoming strong, a more confident China suddenly looms up ahead of the United States and beyond. For Washington, what was once seen as a moderate, humble China has come to seem increasingly more assertive, even aggressive. That has been especially true of what it sees as vital to its interests in Taiwan, on the Korean Peninsula, and in the East China and South China Seas. For all of these, the grand ascendance of China has readily molded the thinking of the United States’ approach to China, dramatically changing the old pattern of Sino–U.S. relations. Not surprisingly, Beijing’s changes have caused Washington to sound the alarm of being replaced by an assertive China. To rally support for this paradigm shift, those in Washington have emphasized the most intimidating aspects of China’s behavior and rhetoric, characterizing Beijing as the “pacing threat” to the United States in all domains. What is missing from much of this rethinking, however, is that a new China, different from the old China before 1978, does not necessarily mean a potent menace — one that threatens both to the United States’ status and global structure, but rather a potential partner down the road, if treated properly. It is worth noting that the re-election of former President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election will usher in a period characterized by heightened uncertainty in Sino–U.S. relations. Within this context, effectively managing the Sino–U.S. economy and trade will emerge as a significant focal point deserving utmost attention. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1f656800faaf462a80fa2480078dc444 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2630-5313 2630-5321 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | World Scientific Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Chinese Journal of International Review |
| spelling | doaj-art-1f656800faaf462a80fa2480078dc4442025-08-20T03:28:18ZengWorld Scientific PublishingChinese Journal of International Review2630-53132630-53212025-06-01070210.1142/S263053132550009XWhen a More Confident China Faces the United States: Misperception and ProspectiveChunpeng Liu0Lianhe Wang1School of Marxism, Yancheng Teachers’ University, Yancheng 224007, P. R. ChinaSchool of International Relations and Public Affairs, Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai 200083, P. R. ChinaAs China has gone from standing up to becoming rich, to becoming strong, a more confident China suddenly looms up ahead of the United States and beyond. For Washington, what was once seen as a moderate, humble China has come to seem increasingly more assertive, even aggressive. That has been especially true of what it sees as vital to its interests in Taiwan, on the Korean Peninsula, and in the East China and South China Seas. For all of these, the grand ascendance of China has readily molded the thinking of the United States’ approach to China, dramatically changing the old pattern of Sino–U.S. relations. Not surprisingly, Beijing’s changes have caused Washington to sound the alarm of being replaced by an assertive China. To rally support for this paradigm shift, those in Washington have emphasized the most intimidating aspects of China’s behavior and rhetoric, characterizing Beijing as the “pacing threat” to the United States in all domains. What is missing from much of this rethinking, however, is that a new China, different from the old China before 1978, does not necessarily mean a potent menace — one that threatens both to the United States’ status and global structure, but rather a potential partner down the road, if treated properly. It is worth noting that the re-election of former President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election will usher in a period characterized by heightened uncertainty in Sino–U.S. relations. Within this context, effectively managing the Sino–U.S. economy and trade will emerge as a significant focal point deserving utmost attention.https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/10.1142/S263053132550009XChinathe United Statesgreat powersmisperceptionprospective |
| spellingShingle | Chunpeng Liu Lianhe Wang When a More Confident China Faces the United States: Misperception and Prospective Chinese Journal of International Review China the United States great powers misperception prospective |
| title | When a More Confident China Faces the United States: Misperception and Prospective |
| title_full | When a More Confident China Faces the United States: Misperception and Prospective |
| title_fullStr | When a More Confident China Faces the United States: Misperception and Prospective |
| title_full_unstemmed | When a More Confident China Faces the United States: Misperception and Prospective |
| title_short | When a More Confident China Faces the United States: Misperception and Prospective |
| title_sort | when a more confident china faces the united states misperception and prospective |
| topic | China the United States great powers misperception prospective |
| url | https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/10.1142/S263053132550009X |
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