ABSTRACT
United States (US)–China relations today encompass a broad range of issues essential to the peace, prosperity and stability of East Asia and the world. Undoubtedly, the question of US-China relations is one of the most important issues that will shape international politics in the twenty-fi rst century. As many writers have argued, US-China relations are, ultimately, hostage to the conditions across the Taiwan Strait and the ‘Taiwan issue’ remains one of the few potential areas of confl ict where US preponderance could be challenged militarily by another major power.
