ABSTRACT
The relations with China are viewed from the spectrum of strategic competition by the United States. In the past three decades, their relations have evolved from conflict to dialogue to cooperation to strategic competition and rivalry. While both the countries have found some common ground on issues related to climate change, the key issues such as trade divergences, high technology, threat perception, etc. have remained unresolved. These issues are further compounded by the rise of China as an economic powerhouse in the region. Its increasingly aggressive actions in its neighbourhood, its expanding military might and divergences on the key global multilateral issues —have further complicated the bilateral relations between the two. The blurring lines between China’s economic, military and political strategies such as through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is being increasingly studied by several countries. Viewed from the United States perspective, it represents a significant challenge to the United States’ economic, political, climate change, security, and global health interests. The paper looks at the evolving relations between the United States and China and analyses the trajectory of relations by studying the three recent Presidencies of the United States—Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden. It looks at the United States administrations’ response to China and various policy frameworks adopted.
