Revisionist Or Status Quo Countries?

The course of China's rise unfolds uncertainty and complexity in Asia and the world as a whole. In American political and academic circles, watching, distinguishing and judging of rising China's intentions, China's strategic goals and ambitions over the long run, and rising China's regional and global ambitions are currently going on. In this thesis, the concepts of revisionist/status quo state will be applied into the analytical framework to review American policy makers and scholars'perception of rising China, and some proposed Chinese policy responding to American perception of a supposed revisionist China will also be given.With regard to perception of future China, the U.S. analysts are roughly divided into two groups, namely the holders of revisionist China and status quo China. The former reflects thinking of new-conservatism, while the latter the realism and liberalism in U.S. strategic circle. Will China turn into a revisionist state or retain a status quo stance? The American answers to the question will somehow determine the future perspective of Sino-U.S. relations, for U.S. China policy is more or less decided upon what the U.S. perceives China. For a country as large as China, its revisionist rise is doomed to pose challenges to international institution framed and operated by United States, whereas, a status quo China will become a constructive collaborator/friend with United States. So far, U.S. doesn't take China as a threat, for fear can create a self-fulfilling prophecy. On the other hand, China's rise brings about significant influences, hence it's necessary for U.S. to prepare for any possible negative repercussion. The above consideration is fully mirrored in America's conduct of China policy - containment and engagement. Put it precisely, in Sino-U.S. security relation, United States tends to contain China, and meanwhile, U.S. anticipates China to be a"responsible stake-holder", transferring China from an outsider into a responsible stake-holder in international community under American leadership. The crux of the matter lies in American intention to manage China's rise and guide China's direction in future.Responding to U.S. China policy,a rational Chinese policy as follows is proposed for China. To begin with, in Sino-U.S. economic relations, an in-depth cooperation with United States will increase its cost to contain China's rise. Secondly, in Sino-U.S. political relations, broadened bilateral dialogue over regional/global issues and enhanced international cooperation are required as well to expand mutual interests. Furthermore, in Sino-U.S. diplomatic relations, a clear picture of China's intention is needed to extend China's goodwill and ease American suspicions. To conclude, with the maneuver of the above responding policy, the void fallacies concerning China's revisionist intention will help United States to take more prone-cooperative attitude towards China.