China-U.S.Relations in a Trump Administration.docVIP

China-U.S.Relations in a Trump Administration 　　Since “anti-globalization” was a signature campaign issue of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump， the incoming administration’s foreign policy moves are understandably attracting global attention. It seems that the direction of China-U.S. relations， one of the most important bilateral relationships in today’s world， will face a lot of uncertainties during the Trump administration. 　　Some analysts believe that Trump’s presidency will actually be a good thing for China since he will likely focus more on domestic reforms as he promised in his populist campaign. The new administration would also be less aggressive with the Asia-Pacific Rebalance strategy initiated by the Obama administration. Should that be the case， it would help reduce tension between the East and the West. 　　Others， however， worry that since Trump has been explicitly accusing China of stealing American jobs， trade frictions between the two countries will likely intensify after he takes office in the White House. 　　Given the fact that economic exchanges have remained one of the most important driving forces in China-U.S. relations， increased trade frictions will definitely strain overall bilateral ties between the two major economies of the world today. 　　What has happened over the past decades shows that China-U.S. relationship has a high degree of flexibility with its own particular pattern. Following the end of the Cold War， relations between the two countries have experienced complexity and fluctuations. 　　Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush， despite advocating a friendly policy towards China， led comprehensive Western sanctions against Beijing in the 1990s in hopes of achieving a domino effect following the collapse of the Soviet Union and tremendous changes in Eastern Europe. The Clinton administration （1993-2001） was capricious on the issue of China receiving most-favored-nation （MFN） trading status， and it criticized China on issues of