Nicholas DIMA, PhD
Rezumat. În evul mediu, China a fost la un moment dat cea mai dezvoltată ţară din lume, statut pe care l-a pierdut treptat până când în secolul 19 a fost subjugată de puteri străine. Apoi, după o sută de ani de frământări politice şi de transformări economice, China a ajuns din nou o supraputere. În prezent China e a doua putere economică a lumii şi o mare putere militară. Vecinii ei sunt îngrijoraţi şi America priveşte aprehensiv ascensiunea ei şi seismele geopolitice declanşate la nivel global. În prezent, relaţiile sino-americane oscilează între delicate, ostile şi dificile. Se va ajunge oare la o confruntare între cele două mari puteri? Eseul de faţă analizează pe scurt această temă din perspectiva istorică şi din punct de vedere geopolitic actual.
INTRODUCTION
The world at the beginning of the 21st Century is dominated by the United States, by Russia and by China. America is still the most powerful country, but while Russia is wrestling with internal problems, China is rising economically and geo-politically and is challenging the world. Short of an unforeseen catastrophe, it appears that nothing can stop China from rising to global prominence. Economically, China has already flooded the world with its industrial products and for practical purposes has conquered Africa and other regions. Geopolitically, China is dominating the south-west Pacific area and has reached Africa with military personnel. China has also built a modern infrastructure and has linked the country with Pakistan by building an impressive highway that crosses its western desert. And politically, Beijing is forging new friendships and alliances with Russia, Iran and other countries opposed to the current American-led globalization. The United States is watching these developments cautiously. Is a future collision of interests and goals between Beijing and Washington inevitable? For now, the two countries are colliding economically and are renegotiating new trade relations. At this time the epidemic of coronavirus has made Beijing focus on its own problems, but the Sino-American rivalry is still going on. A sizeable volume of books, reports and press articles points out to the preoccupation of the United States with China and with the future of their relations. This essay analyzes the chief issues facing the American-Chinese relations.
