ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the scholarly and policy debates in China regarding US pivot/rebalancing strategy. It shows that whereas Chinese policy makers largely remain sober-minded and stress the importance of cooperative, non-adversarial relations with the United States, US pivot/rebalancing strategy has nevertheless increased the sentiment of insecurity and sense of being threatened among Chinese elites and the public. In 2010, the United States undertook initiatives to further strengthen the alliance relations and to bolster military cooperation with partners in the Asia Pacific. The Barack Obama administration's arms sales to Taiwan drew strong reactions from China. The Chinese government, including both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the Ministry of Defense lodged strong protests against the US decision. Predictably, US pivot/rebalancing to Asia will continue to generate debates in China's scholarly and policy communities. Going forward, China and the United States have to take steps to address the emerging security dilemma between the two countries.
