Support and Apprehension: Chinese Views on the US Presidential Election

Abstract

The general question is how did the Chinese people perceive the US presidential election of 2008? The United States, as the only real superpower in the contemporary world, plays such an important role in the world that the influence of American domestic politics has extended far beyond its national borders. Because of its status as the only remaining superpower, the presidential election in the United States has been regarded as an important issue not only by US citizens but also by people all over the world. A series of new policies or amendments regarding foreign affairs, trade, energy, and also the environment, and so on, holds a significant impact over the world, and it is especially relevant to China—a key stakeholder for the United States. Since 9/11, Sino-US relations have been relatively stable, but controversies still remain as do their broader underlying causes, such as conflicts over issues like trade, the exchange rate, human rights, and the Taiwan issue. In this context, the Chinese government has been keen on enhanced and more institutionalized bilateral relations with the United States to solidify and possibly give new meaning to the Chinese role of stakeholder in the world at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Since mere economic interdependence based on continuous rounds of dialogue and talks does not always prevent underlying conflicts over other critical issues from breaking open, it has been the intention of both Washington and Beijing to better define China’s role.