The Rise of China in the International System and the Challenge to U.S. Hegemony

At the dawn of the 21st century, the United States faced the economic and military rise of China, a nation that is now its competitor and is projected to pose a significant threat to the continuation of U.S. hegemony in the near future. Factors such as China's growing economic influence in various regions of the world, its permanent membership and veto power in the United Nations Security Council, and the increasing financial debts and declining global economic and political influence of the United States have made direct confrontation with China challenging for the U.S. These dynamics have engaged the minds of American strategists and policymakers to devise ways to curb China's progress as a challenger. The question this study seeks to answer is: What are the strategies of the United States to confront the rise of China as a challenger to its hegemony? The hypothesis tested in this research posits that China's growing power in the international system presents a challenge to the continuity of U.S. hegemony. The findings of the study reveal that the U.S., through various strategies, aims to prevent China's military dominance and the transregional expansion of its power. These strategies include forging extensive military relations and committing surrounding countries to align with the U.S., leveraging contentious regions as tools to pressure China, and utilizing international and regional organizations to increase the political and economic costs for China. The research employs a descriptive-analytical method, focusing on data analysis to substantiate its conclusions.