Economic Power in the Sino-U.S. Relationship

Military strength has become inconsequential in the pursuit of any industrialized nation's most vital interests. Alternatively, states would do well to focus on the possibilities of exploitation of power through economic strength and economic interdependence. This research reviews the theoretical approached to power and interdependence and applies these concepts to the bilateral relationship between the U.S. and People's Republic of China. This case study suggests that: (1) the post-Cold War national interests of these two disparate countries typify the international shift to economics-based power, and (2) under carefully qualified circumstances, power can arise from asymmetries in economic Although 'engagement' has failed to capture the strategic imagination of its predecessor, President Clinton undoubtedly sees his election as rooted in national economic rejuvenation, not grand security strategies. Clear signals exist that demonstrate the Chinese leadership's dedication to economic growth as the nation's number one priority. New career paths have emerged for clever revisionists who can accommodate Maoist Marxism to Western capitalism.