References 16

1. Introduction

1.1 Research Background

   On December 18th 2017, President Donald Trump outlined a new National Security Strategy that envisions nations in a perpetual state of competition, reverses Obama-era warnings on climate change, and emphasizes multinational agreements that have dominated the United States' foreign policy since the Cold War. His speech, which was based on his platform of "America First", attacked the "failures" of past foreign policy. He criticized Pakistan and North Korea, and how previous administrations approached other world powers. According to the report, the US faces a new era of extreme competition. Russia and China are “rival powers”, but the US must attempt to build a “great partnership with them”. Further, it emphasizes that China and Russia challenge the power, influence and interests of the United States. The document arrogantly criticizes China and Russia for trying to weaken the security and prosperity of the United States, and both countries are determined to ruin the economic freedom and fairness. The document also states that China and Russia are “developing advanced weapons and capabilities that threaten the U.S. infrastructure, command and control structures”. Besides, the document claimed that Beijing “seeks to displace the United States in the Indo-Pacific region”, listing a series of US grievances from deficits to data theft.

   The American National Security Strategy report is the top national strategy of the United States. It states the overall goals and macro-policies of the U.S. government in terms of its internal affairs, diplomacy and defense. It has an important guiding role in the formulation of U.S. diplomatic and security policies. Judging from the historical National Security Strategy reports released by all U.S. governments, there is a certain degree of inheritance and continuity as well as their own different characteristics. As the 2017 National Security Strategy Report is released by the White House, it has become the first National Security Strategy report since the Trump administration took office. It has shown a difference from the Obama era in analyzing the U.S. national interest, threat assessment and strategic measures Strategic thinking, especially showing more significant characteristics on the relationship between China and America.

   China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said ahead of Trump’s national security speech that, given the significance of the United States, China hopes that its National Security Strategy can play a constructive role in promoting world peace and stability. She said that under the strategic plan of the 19th CPC Congress, China will continue to implement high-level trade and investment liberalization and facilitation policies. This will give a sound impetus to the healthy development of Sino-U.S. Economic and trade cooperation in the direction of dynamic balance and mutually beneficial win-win cooperation, and push the Sino-U.S. Economic and trade cooperation to inject new impetus into the larger, higher-level and broader areas. Chinese people are willing to make joint efforts with the United States to establish a strong, stable and healthy economic relationship. It is believed that this is in the common interests of the two countries and peoples and also the common aspiration of the international community.

   In recent years, Sino-U.S. Relations have been volatile. Both sides have frequent disputes over issues such as the South China Sea issue, cyber security, and the growth of China’s military power, arousing fears over the trend of bilateral relations. However, while seeing the competition between China and the United States indeed strengthened, it should also be realized that the bilateral cooperation is also developing. The mechanisms such as strategic and economic dialogue and high-level exchange of visits are still in normal operation. In short, the Sino-U.S. Relations are not out of track but merely not moving smoothly.