U.S.–China Relations

ABSTRACT

U.S.-China relations have developed steadily since President Nixon's groundbreaking visit to China over forty years ago, and are generally stable today. Yet the next U.S. President will face both challenges and opportunities with Beijing. Recent indications are that bilateral cooperation on North Korea's nuclear threat can become a positive, while tensions in the South China Sea are less promising. Perceived Chinese cyberspying, Taiwan and economic frictions will all need to be handled carefully. The next American leader will want to continue the constructive engagement that has characterized past bilateral ties, while speaking out frankly when the two sides differ, as on human rights. Experience has shown that Beijing and Washington can manage their differences and highlight commonalities in what many see as the single most important bilateral relationship in the world today.

KEYWORDS:

• Hong Kong
• Korean peninsula
• South China Sea
• Taiwan
• U.S.-China relations

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Stephen M. Young

Stephen Young moved to his family home in New Hampshire after serving more than 33 years as a Foreign Service Officer in the State Department, and is currently writing a memoir of his career experiences, while giving lectures around the academic circuit. Bringing a strong background in Russian and Chinese history and politics to his career, Young has served in Moscow (twice), Taipei (three times), Beijing, Hong Kong and the Kyrgyz Republic. He was U.S. Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan from 2003-5, Director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) from 2006-9, and served most recently as U.S. Consul General in Hong Kong (2010-13). Young was also Director of the China Desk, the Caucasus and Central Asian Desk, and the Pakistan, Afghanistan Desk in the State Department. He served as Deputy Director of AIT from 1998 to 2001. He has a BA from Wesleyan University and an MA and PhD in history from the University of Chicago, and speaks both Russian and Chinese. Young is married to Barbara Finamore, the Asia Director of Natural Resources Defense Council (and also founder of its China Program). They have three children.