the “backlash” against China and the challenges Chinese leaders face

Differences between the US and China have been in the headlines much more than collaboration on the pressing issues of the day. Below are three examples of recent editorials on the sources of the antagonism.

“President Obama is right to press Beijing to behave more responsibly — toward its own people and internationally. China is certainly pushing its sense of grievance too far and underestimating the fear and resentment its growing power is provoking in Asia and the West.”
New York Times, Feb. 10, 2010

“Making room for a new superpower should not be confused with giving way to it….

“Some see confrontation as inevitable when a rising power elbows its way to the top table. But America and China are not just rivals for global influence, they are also mutually dependent economies with everything to gain from co-operation.”
The Economist, Feb. 4, 2010

“Recently, the Sino-U.S. relationship was severely strained by the U.S. government`s insistence on carrying out the previous administration`s wrong decision to sell arms to Taiwan and stirring up the "Google Incident”…. Compared with 2009, the way the U.S. handled the China-American relationship was perplexing. Experience from the past and current reality reveals that there is a stubborn mindset rooted in U.S. diplomatic strategies. …

“Americans have a special sense of destiny and mission, which ultimately arises from the unshakable concept of "American Exceptionalism.” Admittedly, the "China Threat Theory" lingering in American people`s minds comes partly from lack of understanding about Chinese institutions and policies. The fundamental reason, however, is the deeply-rooted hostility against and fear of the existence of communism.”
People’s Daily, Feb. 3, 2010