Who We Are How We Work Our Impact Our Journeys Support Us
Donate
Risky Competition: Strengthening U.S.-China Crisis Management
Risky Competition: Strengthening U.S.-China Crisis Management
Table of Contents
  1. Executive Summary
  2. Introduction
  3. The New Normal: Risky Competition
    1. The Increasing Stakes of U.S.-China Competition
    2. Competition through Military Presence
      1. China’s outward push to achieve “national rejuvenation”
      2. U.S. defence of a “rules-based order”
    3. The Risks of Miscalculation and Escalation
      1. Strategic miscalculation and misperception
      2. Sparks from a collision at sea or in the air
  4. Mismatched Interests and Crisis Management
    1. Mechanisms for Promoting Safer Encounters
      1. Asymmetric interest in risk reduction
      2. Falling short of potential: The MMCA and Rules of Behaviour
    2. Defence and Military Dialogues
    3. Crisis Communications
  5. Making the Most of U.S.-China Crisis Management
  6. Conclusion
SOUTH CHINA SEA (Oct. 9, 2019) Multiple aircraft from Carrier Air Wing 5 fly in formation over the Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kaila V. Peters/Released
Report 324 / Asia

Risky Competition: Strengthening U.S.-China Crisis Management

As their strategic rivalry grows, China and the U.S. are increasingly operating in close proximity in the Asia Pacific. An accident or misinterpreted signal could set off a wider confrontation. The danger level is low, but dialogue is needed to dial it down further.