TMCnet News
The History of Tensions Between the United States and China/TMCnetWire/ – The United States and China have had a complicated history fraught with tensions that dates back to the times of the Cold War. This history has seen deals and agreements made and broken, wars fought, and economic woes that have snared both countries in a complex web of relationships. This tension came to a head today as the USA used a Sidewinder missile to shoot down a Chinese spy balloon, days after it was first detected flying over the country. Sino-American relations began in the late 1700s when the United States negotiated a number of treaties with the Chinese government. Following the Revolution of 1911, however, US-China relations were strained, as the United States declared support for the Republic of China and recognized the new government. The two nations officially established diplomatic relations in 1949, following the Chinese Civil War, with the United States recognizing the People’s Republic of China, and expressing the desire to live in peace. The Cold War hardened the rivalry, with each side publicly condemning the other’s political system. The early 1970s saw some thaw, with President Richard Nixon making a pioneering visit to the country in 1972 and formally acknowledging the Chinese system. However, this did not lead to a lasting period of relaxed tensions. By the late 1970s, the United States and China had begun to clash over a number of issues, including human rights, the One-China policy and the status of Taiwan. The 1980s saw increased tensions as Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping reformulated the country’s foreign policy, seeking to expand China’s global influence while strengthening ties to the West. At the same time, US President Ronald Reagan turned an increasingly skeptical and suspicious eye towards China. The 1990s were more peaceful, with the countries entering a period of increasing economic cooperation. China joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, and went on to become the US’s largest trade partner. US President Bill Clinton attempted to salvage the relationship with a pioneering trip in 1998, and in the following decade the two sides attempted to work together to solve global issues such as climate change and nuclear proliferation. Recent years, however, have seen tensions again flare up. The US has adopted a more confrontational attitude towards China, with issues between the two countries having included trade agreements, human rights, and the South China Sea. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated these tensions, leading to rising conflict between the two powers. While the US and China have seen periods of amicable relations, a history of mistrust and competing interests have sowed the seeds of long-term tension. Despite attempts to cool diplomatic flare-ups, it appears unlikely that this will be the last time these two countries butt heads over differing opinions. |