Link to the article – https://english.news.cn/20240207/028bd7c31bf1495b89bf6149803bb1e3/c.html
Summary – In light of The Year of the Dragon, the United States and China are looking to improve their relations through courage and strength. “Evolution, improvement, rejuvenated beginnings and a foundation for long-term success (that the Year of the Dragon represents) is exactly what the U.S.-China relations need,” said the vice president of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations. Earlier this week there was a reception in New York celebrating the Year of the Dragon between U.S. and China diplomats where the two countries continued their attempts to strengthen their recently bouldered relationship. People are glad to see the U.S.-China relations building after the two heads of state met in November, but without necessary steps all the work being done will lead to nothing. The meeting in November was a big step in the right direction but there are still big conflicts of interest between the two countries and a commitment to the betterment of citizen’s lives for both countries is needed for the relationship to truly prosper.
Analysis – It is interesting that the two most powerful countries in the world are working together with one another, especially when the regime of each country is so different. China and America are huge trade partners and that is a reason why we likely will never be complete enemies with one another, but at the moment it seems that the main reason that we even associate with China at all is because of their exports. This commitment to improved relations could be very good for the international climate because if the two most powerful countries in the world are in close relations it gives a very balanced and safe global system. At the moment the international system is closest to bipolar with China and the U.S. as the two major powers, and in the past when we had seen a bipolar system it was two harshly opposed countries that fought proxy wars anywhere they could find and disagreed on most everything. In a bipolar climate with two countries that get along well we may see one of the most stable climates in recent times.
Relation to class – In class we have been talking about international security and this ties directly in with that. The two powers of the world coming together not only ensures security for those two world powers, but also has the ability to ensure national security to many other less powerful countries because the bipolar system with two friendly powers will lead to the U.S. and China working together around the world to maintain balance and peace and they will intervene in smaller conflicts to de-escalate and try to resolve conflicts.