China's American Dilemma

The Tiananmen crisis of 1989 stimulated the most intense debate over Chinese policy toward the United States since the rapprochement between the two countries in the early 1970s. One issue confronting Chinese leaders has been to weigh the benefits of close economic and cultural ties with America against the disruptive ideas and values that accompany them. A second issue has been to determine China's response to the improvement of the U.S. strategic position caused by the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, the moderation of Soviet foreign policy, and the American victory in the Persian Gulf. In the future, Beijing may also have to decide how to deal with growing American sympathy for the Nationalist Chinese government in Taipei or increased pressure for Taiwanese independence. The evolution of Chinese policy toward the United States since the Tiananmen crisis suggests that Chinese leaders still prefer a stable and beneficial relationship with America but are trying to find ways to maximize their diplomatic leverage over Washington.