Although a Sino-U.S. conflict is far from inevitable, some assessments see tensions building in the Asia-Pacific region. Despite worrying signs of intensifying rivalry between Washington and Beijing, few observers have offered paths away from disaster. In Meeting China Halfway: How to Defuse the Emerging US-China Rivalry, author Lyle J. Goldstein focuses on American and Chinese perceptions of where their interests clash and proposes ways to ease bilateral tensions through compromise. Each chapter contains a "cooperation spiral"—the opposite of an escalation spiral—to illustrate his policy proposals. Dr. Goldstein makes numerous policy proposals over the course of the book, hoping to stimulate a genuine debate about cooperative policy solutions to the most challenging problems in U.S.-China relations.
Dr. Goldstein discussed his book at the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations in New York on June 25, 2015. The conversation and Q&A are moderated by NCUSCR President Stephen Orlins. For more information on the program: https://www.ncuscr.org/content/meeting-china-halfway-how-defuse-emerging-us-china-rivalry.
Lyle J. Goldstein is an associate professor in the China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI), which was established at U.S. Naval War College in October 2006 to improve mutual understanding and maritime cooperation with China. He served as the founding director of CMSI from 2006 to 2011. For this service, he was awarded the Superior Civilian Service Medal in 2012.