Tow traces a history of U.S.-China foreign relations, beginning in the 1860s to today, focusing on a policy he calls “surround/isolate/weaken.” The reason that policy toward China of the past 65-plus-years hasn’t worked is because it is based on “might makes right”, and not based on understanding, fair play, and win-win solutions. Anson Burlingame recognized about 150 years ago that, in the long run, the best interests of the U.S. and the American people are best served by a China policy based on equality of nations.

As the relationship between the US and China continues to evolve from one between the sole superpower and one of several major powers to one between the ‘eldest’ and ‘second brother’, the president-elect will need to be pragmatic and creative to preserve a deep mutual dependence between the two countries.

Looking at the positive side of China-U.S. relations will enhance expectations for peace and stability. China and the U.S. share tremendous common interests and responsibility in maintaining economic prosperity and transnational security across the region. Talking about cooperation will deliver friendship and partnership while talking about conflicts will really create enemies.

President Barack Obama came into office in 2009 with roughly 180,000 Americans fighting insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan. The 44th President of the United States was elected to put an end to the long war and reorient U.S. defense policy away towards smaller scale operations and “national building at home.” 8 years later, what will President Barack Obama’s war legacy be?

The world is watching to see how Trump will treat the “Asia-Pacific Rebalancing” strategy, how he will improve US relations with Russia, how he will respond to the friendly messages released by China, how he will readjust relations with allies and whether he will be serious in fighting terrorism and respect the United Nations’ central role.

President-elect Donald Trump’s attack on international trade, and especially his intention to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), will allow the People’s Republic of China to seize the economic lead in Asia and prevent any goal of making America great again.

President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement that the United States will quit the Trans-Pacific Partnership kills the stillborn deal. For the countries of Southeast Asia who joined this U.S. led pact, it is a moment of reflection over their policy choices, making them seek accommodation with a more certain China rather than a wavering U.S.

Strategic surprise and a cultivated image of irrationality is a classical strategy in a game of brinkmanship. One side highlights its willingness to “dance too close” to the cliff’s edge and maximize risk, leading its opposition into eventual retreat. Trumps’ discussion with Tsai Ing-wen must be seen through the prism or feigned irrationality. Trump, a studious businessman, may have considered the strategies of past presidents and found the “Madman” hypothesis compelling for his ultimate goal: to leverage Chinese adamancy over core national interests like the Taiwan issue into an agreement over trade and jobs – his existential political pledge.

Despite trade frictions and the recent fuss over contact with Taiwan’s leader, the future Trump administration is likely to promote the smooth development of Sino-U.S. relations in the years to come. Expansion of cooperation in areas where the two countries have common interests would be the first priority of both sides.

What does Donald Trump’s victory mean for Sino-American relations? With no experience in government, Trump is unique among all past American presidents. It also means the new president has no political background by which the Chinese can predict his behavior. Trump will come to the White House with a “clean slate” with respect to official “China policy.”