US-China Conflict Prevention

A catastrophic conflict we can’t afford.

Why US-China Relations Matter

  • Long-standing history between the United States and China has established an unyielding geopolitical bond that is deeply intertwined in each country’s economy and civil society. As two of the world’s largest economies, these two countries also have enormous influence on the global system. In many ways, their relationship sets the course for the 21st century.

  • A peaceful joint relationship between the two countries leads to a pathway to solving many global problems. On the other hand, an increasingly contentious future would disrupt global stability and potentially cause a new Cold War or even catastrophic military conflicts.  Such a future challenges forward motion on almost any global challenge.

What Do We Focus On?

Common Interests 

Experts agree that the U.S. and China have common interests on a range of non-traditional security issues, such as combating climate change, non-proliferation, reintegration in global trade and investment, and preventing pandemics.

To date, bilateral disagreements and the structure of an international system where China feels it is a “rule taker, not a rule maker” have prevented obvious opportunities for cooperation. We will unpack these conflicts and attempt to articulate a more positive vision of cooperation on the global stage.

Crisis Management and Communication

Crisis management and the prevention of escalation is essential, especially when relations are poor and communication channels are thin between countries. We facilitate constructive dialogues between foreign policy and national defense experts from both sides and draw lessons from successful diplomacy conducted in history.