CHINA US Focus - Perspectives shaping the world's most important bilateral relationship

Maritime disputes constitute the single likeliest source of instability and military conflict with China, says Swaine. He explains the primary drivers of tension in the East and South China Seas and identifies steps Washington can take to reduce the risk of hostilities.

As the relationships between China and its neighbors deteriorate, Doug Bandow argues that the Sino-US relationship has never been as important.

In order to a avoid a “mutual assured depression” relationship, Richard Weitz argues that China and the United States must work together to deal with global challenges.

As the US Presidential election races towards a conclusion, both candidates have intensified their “China-bashing” in recent weeks. Doug Bandow warns that regardless of whoever wins, the incoming President will need to drastically scale back the inflammatory rhetoric upon assuming office or risk long-term damage to the China-US relationship.

With the US Party Conventions over, one Party’s platform in particular stood out as particularly detrimental to US-China relations. While it is now clear the hardliners within the Republican Party control its China policy, what is less apparent is whether or not Republicans have thought through the full ramifications of their confrontational positions towards China.

Despite rising tensions in the South China Sea, conflict can and should be averted. A good first step would be to acknowledge that the South China Sea is part global good, part sovereign territory. Through greater dialogue, trust-building and transparency, informal rules of the sea can accommodate both a rising China and a strong America.