The Great Game (China's "Tai Chi" vs. America's "Boxing")

Author: Liu Jianfei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-11-01
Features: The two major factors driving the current U.S. policy toward China will not disappear in the foreseeable future. These two factors are the war on terror and the significant gap in comprehensive national strength between China and the U.S. — Zbigniew Brzezinski
China has a high likelihood of becoming a world power. Currently, it is only a regional power. I don’t see any inevitability of Sino-U.S. conflict because I don’t see fundamental interests clashing between us. — George Scowcroft
Except for hegemonic states, no country is content with the status quo. As long as they possess sufficient strength, they will inevitably expand outward or dominate their region. Only by becoming a hegemon can they feel truly secure. All great powers have escaped this logic, and China will not be an exception. Currently, China’s strength is still weak, making it a "paper tiger," so it is biding its time. But one day, China will become a real tiger. — John Mearsheimer
The U.S. and China will have more areas of potential cooperation in the evolving international landscape. Whether it’s terrorism, the spread of infectious diseases, or changes in global funds, these issues will be more severe in 20 years than they are now. Therefore, I believe they will pressure Sino-U.S. cooperation, especially when China becomes a larger part of the global economy. And the economy will be the focus of U.S.-China relations. — Joseph Nye
Despite some entanglements and issues and disagreements between China and the U.S., the ultimate goal of U.S.-China relations must be to improve. This is necessary for world peace and stability. China does not threaten the U.S., and the U.S. should not view China as an adversary. This book is structured logically, moving from the macro to the micro, from the global to the specific. The entire book can be divided into three parts.
Part I consists of Chapters 1 and 2, covering the macro world situation and its impact on China and the U.S.:
Chapter 1 discusses the overall international situation and how China and the U.S. perceive it. Both view the current international situation as a "strategic golden period" for their development.
Chapter 2 explores the trends in the world order, helping readers understand where the U.S. and China will stand in the future global landscape.
Part II includes Chapters 3, 4, and 5, focusing on the foreign strategies and power dynamics of China and the U.S.:
Chapter 3 examines the changing dynamics of U.S. strategy toward China.
Chapter 4 discusses the changing dynamics of China’s strategy toward the U.S.
Chapter 5 analyzes the current state and evolving power dynamics between China and the U.S.
Part III consists of Chapters 6 and 7, covering the positive and negative factors influencing the development of U.S.-China relations:
Chapter 6 discusses the major negative factors affecting U.S.-China relations.
Chapter 7 explores the major positive factors influencing the development of U.S.-China relations.
The conclusion primarily takes a Chinese perspective, reflecting on the strategic stance and thinking China should adopt to promote the development of U.S.-China relations. The remarks of the interviewed experts are concentrated mainly in Chapters 3, 6, and 7, while the other chapters have relatively fewer insights. To help readers better understand the ideas expressed by the interviewed experts, a "Biographical Notes on Interviewed Experts" is appended at the end of the book.