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Article: An Evitable War: Engaged Containment and the US-China Balance.
- Article from:
- Parameters
- Article date:
- September 22, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 U.S. Army War College. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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"War is of vital importance to the state; the province of life or death; the road to survival or ruin."
Sun Tzu
America's success as a world power since 1898 has hinged on balancing its interests in Asia and Europe, often in the face of significant distractions and conflicting interests. Though our policy of engagement with China barely harks back to the reestablishment of diplomatic ties in 1972, it has proven adequate to managing that balance. Though far from perfect, engagement provides a workable foundation for our continued relationship with that country, provided that all three of the following conditions are met:
* China's internal ...