Co-operation within Competition: Sino-U.S. Climate Engagement During the Biden Era

Abstract

This study explores the shifting landscape of U.S.–China relations, where strategic rivalry, economic and technological competition, and selective cooperation unfold side by side. Grounded in Morton Deutsch’s theory of cooperation and competition, the research examines how both conflict and convergence take shape across key domains, including security, economics, technology, and climate diplomacy. Employing a qualitative method, the analysis draws exclusively from secondary sources such as policy papers, diplomatic statements, and scholarly literature. The findings highlight a growing divide in areas like military positioning and advanced technologies, yet also reveal ongoing collaboration, particularly around climate action. The U.S.–China relationship reflects a complex, interdependent dynamic where confrontation and cooperation continue to coexist.