September 27, 2018
China in the World Podcast: The U.S. and China as Peer Competitors in the Indo-Pacific
The Trump administration has taken a more confrontational approach to bilateral relations with China, implementing tariffs on nearly half of all Chinese exports to the U.S. and treating Beijing as a strategic competitor across many aspects of the relationship. In this podcast, Paul Haenle spoke with Abigail Grace, a research associate in the Asia-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, on the changing dynamics of U.S. relations with China and the U.S. Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy.
Grace discussed the evolution of U.S. foreign policy toward China, drawing on her experience in the National Security Council in both the Obama and Trump administrations. While President Obama focused on working with China to advance multilateral initiatives such as the Paris Climate Agreement and Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), President Trump has made leveling the playing field for trade and economic relations the priority for the relationship. Grace argued that tariffs have been effective in shifting the focus of bilateral discussions to the economic relationship, but may not lead to any concrete progress on the fundamental strategic issues which the U.S. seeks to resolve. Language in the National Security Strategy labeling China a strategic competitor and revisionist power should not be framed negatively, Grace argued. Instead, such language recognizes Beijing’s elevated status and growing influence on the international stage. Grace said the Trump administration’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific and the Obama administration’s Pivot to Asia strategies both recognize the importance of U.S. engagement in Asia in the 21st century. The administration now faces the challenge of balancing its strategy’s economic, security, and governance components while at the same time upholding U.S. values.
Listen to this episode of the Carnegie-Tsingua Center's "China in the World Podcast" here.
More from CNAS
-
Regional and Global Responses to a Taiwan Contingency
Reports
A contingency across the Taiwan Strait has the potential to reshape the Indo-Pacific and even global security environment. This report explores how states beyond the United St...
By Jacob Stokes, Kareen Hart, Ryan Claffey & Thomas Corel
-
Democracy in South Asia amid U.S. Aid Cuts
Reports
The practice of democratic governance and the increased number of people across the world participating in national elections are positive trends that will help ensure governm...
By Lisa Curtis, Kareen Hart & Keerthi Martyn
-
Lessons from the U.S.-China Trade War
Podcast
America and China have agreed to a 90-day truce of their month-long trade war, but the economic uncertainty has not yet ended. Beyond tariffs, the spat had begun spilling over...
By Edward Fishman
-
Why China’s Amphibious ‘Invasion Platforms’ Are Troubling Sign for Taiwan
Video
Beijing’s new ships can land on beaches and link to form massive mobile piers. Analysts, including Tom Shugart from Center for a New American Security, say they’re intended to...
By Tom Shugart
