ABSTRACT
Recent discussion o f S ino -Amer i can relat ions has focused o n the deve lop m e n t o f a U.S. p o l i c y for m a n a g i n g a r i s i n g p o w e r a n d po ten t i a l r i v a l . The debate over con ta inmen t versus engagement is at the center of this d is cussion. Advoca tes of con ta inment foresee the rise o f a bel l igerent power , a process tha t w i l l i n e v i t a b l y destabil ize A s i a a n d challenge v i t a l U.S. i n terests. A r g u i n g tha t a p o w e r f u l C h i n a w i l l be in ten t o n ach iev ing a l o n g l is t of unrea l i zed t e r r i t o r i a l and p o l i t i c a l ambi t ions , they insist that the U n i t e d States m u s t respond to China ' s rise b y s t rengthening its alliances o n the Chinese p e r i p h e r y a n d increasing U.S. m i l i t a r y dep loymen t s i n As ia . Advoca tes of engagement agree that C h i n a is g r o w i n g stronger b u t argue tha t Chinese in ten t ions r e m a i n f l u i d a n d tha t p rematu re a d o p t i o n o f be l l igerent pol ic ies r i sk creat ing a se l f - fu l f i l l ing prophecy-trea t Ch ina as an enemy a n d i t w i l l be one. They assert that expanded economic relat ions a n d off ic ia l d ia logues o n securi ty issues, h u m a n r igh ts , a n d the g loba l c o m m o n s w i l l m a x i m i z e the prospect that Ch ina w i l l use its p o w e r i n a manne r conduc ive to U.S. interests.
