ABSTRACT
China has often been seen as a challenge or an opportunity to the prevailing international system. The victory of communist forces in China in 1949 was followed in 1950 by the signing of the Sino-Soviet alliance, the start of the Korean War, and Chinese military force intervention in the Korean conflict. The prevailing international view of China’s power and influence took a radical turn downward in 1989. A positive scenario for China’s future posits an effective administration and greater political reform along with powerful economic modernization. The United States (US) has a lot at stake in China’s future. China lies at the center of the world’s most dynamic economic region. The interaction of China’s uncertain future with the sometimes confused US policy toward China will have a significant impact on the international environment. The regime in Beijing has presided over a period of unprecedented growth in the Chinese economy.
