China |
United States |
---|---|
Diplomatic Mission | |
Chinese Embassy, Washington, D.C. | United States Embassy, Beijing |
Envoy | |
Ambassador Cui Tiankai | Ambassador Terry Branstad (nominee) |
China–United States relations, more often known as U.S.–Chinese relations, Chinese–U.S. relations, or Sino-American relations, refer to international relations between the United States of America and the People's Republic of China (PRC). The partnership between China and the United States, in which each nation regards the other as a potential adversary as well as a strategic partner, has been described by world leaders and academics as the world's most important bilateral relationship of the century.
As of 2017[update], the United States has the world's largest economy and China the second largest. The International Monetary Fund estimates that China's economy has overtaken that of United States in terms of GDP (PPP) in 2014.
Relations between the two countries have generally been stable with some periods of open conflict, most notably during the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Currently, China and the United States have mutual political, economic, and security interests, including, but not limited to, the prevention of terrorism and the proliferation of nuclear weapons, although there are unresolved concerns relating to the role of democracy in government in China and human rights in both respective countries. China is the second largest foreign creditor of the United States behind Japan. The two countries remain in dispute over territorial issues in the South China Sea.
The election and ascension of current U.S. President Donald Trump has considerably strained Sino-American relations with multiple news outlets anticipating potential trade or military conflict between China and the United States. This is largely due to comments made during his presidential campaign citing Chinese currency manipulation and outsourcing of American trade to the China.