China and the United States; in a Cold War? What does China want?

Calling the current Chinese-American relationship ‘Cold War Two’ harkens back to Cold War One between the United States and the Soviet Union. Relating this current relationship so closely to the historical one can be highly misleading because while there are similarities, there are also key differences that make the phrase ‘cold war’ more misleading than helpful.

However, the phrase ‘cold war’ goes back before the rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States. By a more basic definition of the term, the competitive, tense, and untrusting relationship between the U.S. and China that hopefully will not lead to direct blows is a cold war, even if not Cold War Two. The use of the phrase is still problematic because in most minds it will harken back to the Cold War with the Soviet Union, but the phrase is not inaccurate in and of itself.

Seems Like a Cold War

Many parts of the U.S.-Chinese relationship certainly make it feel like we’re in a cold war.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said, “China is the only country with both the intent to reshape the international order — and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military and technological power to do it. Beijing’s vision would move us away from the universal values that have sustained so much of the world’s progress over the past 75 years.”

He also said, “But rather than using its power to reinforce and revitalize the laws, agreements…