In their own words: Chinese and US perceptions of the current state of Sino-US relations

Much ink has been spilled over the past month assessing the current state of Sino-US relations, and what it means for regional and Australian security. In this December issue of the Looking Glass, the authors seek to fill the gap between what the protagonists themselves think about the current state of Sino-US relations, and how they think about structuring their relationship into the future.

The authors provide a discussion and analysis of prevailing elite opinion in China and the US on these issues drawing on official government statements and well-connected think-tank commentators in both countries.

Their analysis presents three major conclusions: 1. Both Beijing and Washington perceive their relationship to be primarily defined by competition rather than cooperation for the foreseeable future; 2. There are indications that both states are seeking to identify new “guard rails” for the relationship to build a form of “strategic stability”, even as they compete with one another; 3. Both parties have now clearly stated their interest in finding the basis for a form of “competitive coexistence”. On that basis, it would be imprudent for US allies not to prepare for such an eventuality.

Authors