The United States and China:
Navigating the Path to Constructive Cooperation

April, 2023

This paper shows how Cold War–era ideological divides have evolved into modern flashpoints—territorial disputes in the South China Sea and over Taiwan, a damaging trade war, and growing mistrust of human rights and technology, despite deep economic interdependence that deters open conflict. To manage this rivalry constructively, it requires strict adherence to international law, expanded cultural and educational exchanges, and balanced trade and privacy agreements that pave the way for cooperation on shared global challenges, such as climate change and health.