ABSTRACT
In China, there have also been concerns expressed as to whether the United States can accept China as a great power, especially in light of the larger question of whether American power, at least in the Asia-Pacific region, is waning. For example, in a June 2015 editorial in China’s People’s Daily, written during a time of sharp policy differences between Beijing and Washington over the South China Sea sovereignty issue, it was argued that “the relationship between China and the US has, like the coin, an upside and a downside… Over the last few decades, Sino-US relations have even in the midst of complications gone forward, and even when fragile the relations have shown resilience.” However, the piece added that, “one should never take this resilience for granted, since areas of weakness also play a major part in the relationship. The areas of weakness root from the hard-headedness of the US”.1 Just as the “China debate” has evolved in the US, so has the “America debate” within China. The two countries continue to enjoy a strong trading relationship, and share interests in a variety of areas related to diplomacy and strategy, and yet the question of these two states adjusting to the narrowing power gaps between them is becoming one of the most important in international relations.
