Since Barack Obama became American president in 2009, the Sino-US relationship – widely seen as one of the most important in the world – has been through something of a honeymoon period.

That culminated in a visit by the US President to China in November which was seen as generally successful by both sides. But the goodwill appears to be dissipating fast in 2010.

Analysts from both sides are predicting stormy weather ahead. Dean Cheng, a China analyst at Washington think tank, The Heritage Foundation, says the US can expect a “an ugly, turbulent year with China" in 2010.

Meanwhile Shi Yinhong, a professor of international politics at Renmin University in Beijing says "This year the United States won't be like last year when it comes to human rights, political control and the Internet -- there will certainly be ructions in China-U.S. relations.

RESULTS OF OBAMAS VISIT
STATE BANQUET
CHANGED VIEW OF OBAMA
BEYONCE IN BEIJING
GLOBAL PRICE OF GOLD
EX PAT VS LOCAL PAY
HOW MUCH FAKE RAIN

 

As the world looks forward to 2010 many will be hoping that this year will see a definitive emergence from the financial crisis of the past 12 months. And with the New Year, new political issues are emerging. Not least of these is China's growing confidence on the world stage - and particularly its relationship with the US.

US based Foreign Policy Magazine recently carried a report on the world political climate in 2010 in which it listed key issues for the coming year. Amongst these were Sino-US relations; the Iran nuclear issue; Europe's financial pressures; regulation of the US financial system; and global warming.

Now on the back of that report a poll carried out here in China by the website ifeng.com asked respondents which of these five topics they thought would be the biggest political issue of 2010?

Sino-U.S. Ties
Sino-Oz Ties
Climate Change
Coal Dilemma
Shanghai System

David Moser invites professors to discuss China's 2nd Sino-American Financial Talents Forum, training of new talent, combining theory and practice in teaching, and strengthening student-level innovation.