In a recent statement, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called his country’s relations with China as “increasingly hostile” and said he was for an encounter of the “position of power” with Beijing in any possible interaction or confrontation. In fact, the US Secretary of State’s remarks are a reflection of a recently released national security document. The document states that the United States can work with China in areas such as the environment, communicable disease control, and global economic stability, as well as issues such as North Korea and Iran. At the same time, the two countries are competing for a better position in the economic and political arenas.

Competition and hostility, two important features of future US-China relations

But in addition to competition and cooperation, there are also many controversial issues between Beijing and Washington that could lead to a growing hostility between the two countries. If we want to determine the priority of competition, cooperation and hostility in US-China relations, we must say that competition is now the first priority, which is moving towards increasing hostility, and cooperation between the two countries is a much lower priority. Therefore, remarks of the US secretary of state is overseeing this situation. An important point to note is the strategic dimension of US-China relations. This means that in this dimension, the two countries consider rivalry and hostility between them inevitable; the strategic dimension oversees the international standing of the two countries and their role in setting international rules. In fact, the rivalry for supremacy has led to growing hostility between the two countries. Therefore, it should be said that despite the coming to power of the new administration in the United States, not only the tension in the relations between the two countries has not been reduced, but it has also been on the path of more conflict and confrontation than during the Trump era. Therefore, it is to be expected that Beijing-Washington relations will move towards escalated tension in future, and that cooperative issues in relations between the two countries, such as the environment or infectious diseases, will not obscure the strategic rivalry between the United States and China. Although China is still taking a cautious approach to competing with the United States, it should also be noted that the Chinese government has moved beyond its precautionary coverage compared to the last year and is seeking to confront US policies more objectively.

China’s strategic alliance in rivalry with the US

The manifestation of this policy of China can be seen in the change of its policies. Over the past year, China has more explicitly supported the Philippines, prevented Security Council resolutions against the Myanmar government, expanded its strategic relationship with Pakistan, and recently announced its 25-year agreement with Iran. In fact, in response to US policies of recruiting regional governments to counter China’s policies, the Beijing government has taken a similar approach, seeking strategic alliances to compete with the United States. Therefore, it must be said that political equations of power are taking root in East Asia, and in the coming years, the center of conflict and rivalry between the great powers will be the East Asian region. In addition, the Chinese government is committed to strengthening its economic and military capabilities in addition to cooperation between countries. In the meantime, China’s economy has been growing for the past year as the economies of various countries, including the United States, have been hit by Coronavirus. It has also begun building aircraft carriers and expanding its influence in the South China Sea. The puzzles of strategic rivalry between China and the United States seem to be arranged rapidly, and the world should expect a new rivalry between the United States and China, as it did during the Cold War, and at the same time as The United States and the Soviet Union affected the whole world, the rivalry between the United States and China could affect the interests and security of many countries.