<Author>Michael</Author>
<Topic>Relations Between China and the US</Topic>
<Source></Source>
<Nationality>USA</Nationality>
Relations between China and the US have undergone many difficult periods. At an earlier period in history before the 1970s, the United States considered China "an outlaw nation." American governmental officials refused to deal with the Communist Government of China, which it called "Red China." The Chinese called the Americans "running dogs of imperialism." The American support for Taiwan's independence and its willingness to go to war with China to protect Taiwan from a Chinese mainland attack, then and more recently, has caused an ongoing difficulty between the two countries. Even after President Richard Nixon made his historic trip to China in February, 1972, with the joint signing of the Shanghai Communiques, there have been many ups and downs for good relations with China and the US.
In the American led war against Serbia, the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade was hit with a bomb and was substantially damaged. The United States apologized for what it called an unfortunate accident. In April 2001, an American spy plane and a Chinese fighter plane collided over Hainan Island, and this led to a protracted set of negotiations to resolve this issue and to set the American military and the aircraft free. American ambiguity about whether China is a strategic competitor or strategic partner has caused more difficulties.
The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks against the US, and the support of China for The US antiterrorist campaign, have greatly improved relations. Also, American support for China's entrance into the World Trade Organization has. been a positive factor. President George W. Bush's 2001 attendance with Presidents Putin of Russia and Jiang Zemin at the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum in, Shanghai, and his later February 2002 visit to. China celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of normalization of Chinese-American relations has been a positive achievement for both countries. Overall, one sees the prospect of better and better economic and political ties for both countries.
