China and the United States: A New Cold War?
The historic tensions between the United States and China have been long documented. In recent years, however, the rivalry between the world’s two largest economies has intensified as the countries direct their attention towards a plethora of global issues, ranging from trade and regional geopolitics to the ascendance of great-power competition. This article will examine whether the relationship between the United States and China is entering a new Cold War.
Economic Competition between the US and China
In 2018, the trade dispute between the United States and China triggered a rapid and continuous deterioration of economic ties between the two countries. Prior to the U.S.’s imposition of economic sanctions in 2018, the two countries had already been in a major economic conflict since early 2017, when President Trump imposed tariffs on Chinese exports and accused the country of unfair trading practices.
Since then, both governments have implemented a series of retaliatory tariffs, resulting in one of the largest and most potent trade wars in recent history. By 2018, tariffs imposed by both countries had impacted around $360 billion of bilateral trade, resulting in a serious impact to both nations’ economies and a profound suspicion towards each other’s motivations.
The Political Climate between the US and China
In addition to trade tensions, the political landscape between the United States and China has been characterized by a heightened level of hostility and mistrust, driven in part by strategic competition—particularly over the Asia-Pacific region.
One example of this hostility is the increasing military build-up on both sides. China has appropriated the South China Sea with a suite of military-grade infrastructure projects and maritime laws, while the United States has responded with operations by its Navy in order to prove its commitment to its allies in the region.
The United States has also taken steps to counter Chinese influence beyond Southeast Asia, seeking to deter China’s influence with diplomatic campaigns in Australia, India, and Japan. However, none of these issues have likely significantly impacted China’s approach towards the United States.
U.S. Complaints against China
The United States has also taken direct political action against China in its escalating rivalry, such as:
• Accusing China of “economic aggression” and “unfair trade practices”
• Imposing tariffs targeting Chinese imports
• Blaming Beijing for “currency manipulation”
• Introducing bills designed to limit foreign investments in domestic industries
• Restricting technology transfers to Chinese firms
• Criticizing China’s high levels of state subsidies
• Implementing restrictions on Chinese students studying in the U.S.
China’s Complaints against the US
In return, the Chinese government has brought up a series of grievances towards US policy, including:
• Criticizing the US’s investigative investigations into Huawei
• Labeling the US’s use of tariffs as “protectionism”
• Dismissing US accusations of “Beijing’s meddling” in US affairs
• Rejecting claims of “forced technology transfers”
• Questioning the US’s use of “currency manipulation”
• Blaming the US for souring economic ties between the two nations
• Expressing frustration with Washington’s “interference” in Chinese domestic affairs
The Growing Strategic Conflict
The long-term implications of the growing hostility between the United States and China have become increasingly concerning for both countries. The increasing strategic confrontation not only has serious implications for regional stability in the Asia Pacific, but it could also potentially lead to a full-on “cold war” between the two sides.
The competition between the two countries has also intensified in similarly relentless fashion in the fields of military technology and cyber warfare. In 2020, for example, the Pentagon accused China of using technology stolen from American companies in order to develop weapons. That same year, the US State Department described Chinese cyberattacks as “an act of aggression” targeting the US.
The Impact of the US Presidential Election
The US presidential election in 2020 left many wondering what the future of US-China relations may be. On one hand, many observers were hopeful that, under a Biden administration, the US-China relationship could potentially improve. On the other, there were some who feared that the election of Biden could lead to increased tensions between the two countries.
The post-election reality has yet to be determined, but some analysts have argued that despite Biden’s insistence on a more cooperative path, there is little indication that either side will compromise or back down from the existing rivalries. With increasing tensions in a number of areas, the current state of affairs between the US and China may spiral into a long-term “cold war.”
Though the state of US and Chinese relations is far from ideal, it is uncertain whether the relationship between the two countries is entering into a new cold war. Both sides have taken steps to further their own interests, but there is still the potential for diplomacy, not to mention a more collaborative approach to resolving their areas of disagreement. However, it is clear that the coming months and years will be crucial for the future of US-China relations, and will shape the international environment for many years to come.
