F
or the first time since contending with the Soviet Union in the Cold War, the United States
faces the prospect of a long-term competition with a near-peer great power: the People’s
Republic of China.
1
China’s economy has become the second-largest in the world, and
its companies compete with U.S. counterparts for markets and resources. The People’s
Liberation Army (PLA) has become the “pacing threat” to U.S. military operations in Asia, and
China’s diplomatic influence rivals that of the United States in many parts of the world. The nar-
rowing gap in national strength has coincided with an intensification of bilateral disputes over
trade, technology transfer, cyber espionage, human rights, and other issues. Even the shared
threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has proved an occasion for the two sides to
trade accusations and compete for influence.
2
Tensions have grown around smoldering hot-spot
issues, such as Taiwan and the East and South China Seas.
This rapid unraveling of the U.S.-China relationship—which had been widely viewed as
stable and mutually profitable despite long-standing disputes—has unsettled global politics.
Although both capitals appear committed to peacefully resolving their differences, the intensify-
ing acrimony and distrust have raised fears among many observers that the two countries could
be headed toward confrontation.
TIMOTHY R. HEATH
U.S. Strategic Competition
with China
A RAND Research Primer
C O R P O R A T I O N
Perspective
EXPERT INSIGHTS ON A TIMELY POLICY ISSUE
June 2021
