Number: RL33877
Title: China-U.S. Relations: Current Issues and Implications for U.S. Policy
Authors: Kerry Dumbaugh, Specialist in Asian Affairs 
Abstract: U.S. relations with the People's Republic of China (PRC) were remarkably smooth during the Bush Administration, raising speculation about how relations will fare after the transition to the Obama Administration. The two governments continue to have regular and robust high-level visits and exchanges of working level officials. Washington and Beijing also have resumed military-to-military relations, cooperated on anti-terror initiatives, and worked closely on a multilateral effort to restrain and eliminate North Korea's nuclear weapons activities. U.S. companies continue to invest heavily in China, and the Chinese central government has become an ever more important purchaser of U.S. securities and the largest holder of U.S. Treasuries used to finance the federal budget deficit. Despite these closer connections, thorny problems continue to be factors in the relationship, including difficulties over China's intentions toward and U.S. commitments to democratic Taiwan, various disputes over China's failure to protect U.S. intellectual property rights, the economic advantage China gains from managing its currency level, and growing concerns about the quality and safety of some exported Chinese products.
Pages: 23
Date: December 9, 2008