The United States and China ─ A History from the Eighteenth Century to the Present

Combining original research with contemporary scholarship, The United States and China re-examines over two centuries of interaction between the United States and China in a changing world. It explains the foundations and character of their political, economic, military, social, and cultural relations, and shows how they have come to shape the domestic and international affairs of the two countries. American-Chinese relations have also been affected by national and global forces. Societal interchanges and government-level interactions are the dual themes of this research survey. Since 1784 when the first American ship, the Empress of China, landed in Canton (Guangzhou), U.S.-Chinese relations have moved from the periphery to the center of strategic attention, for both countries. This transformation has not eroded either American supremacy or Chinese sovereignty, but in the 21st century has given rise to a new order of national, bilateral, and supranational institutions that conjoins the two peoples. Progress, patience and, most importantly, peace are the proven historical cure for the various ills engendered by Sino-U.S. interactions. This text offers the first comprehensive synthesis of the history of U.S.-Chinese relations from initial contact to the present. Balancing the modern (1784 1949) and contemporary (1949 ) periods, Dong Wang retraces centuries of interaction between two of the world s great powers from the perspective of both sides. The author explores key themes in each phase of the relationship and highlights important case studies for more in-depth treatment. She examines state-to-state diplomacy, as well as economic, social, military, religious, and cultural interplay within varying national and international contexts. In both form and content, these multi-faceted encounters have shaped one of the most significant bilateral relationships of our time. As China itself continues to grow in global importance, so does the U.S.-Chinese relationship, and this book provides an essential grounding for understanding its past, present, and possible futures.

Dong Wang is professor of contemporary Chinese history and director of the Centre for East Asian Studies at the University of Turku in Finland.