After the latest high- level dialogue with China on economic, security, and environmental issues, CFR's Elizabeth C. Economy says Washington should prioritize effective rule of law in China. Virtually every other issue hinges on that, she says.

On the twentieth anniversary of China's Tiananmen Square crackdown, six experts reflect on the country's trajectory since then. Many note China's breathtaking economic growth as well as mounting strains caused by a lack of political reforms.

A heightened bilateral relationship may not be possible for China and the United States, as the two countries have mismatched interests and values.

This audio includes readings of selected articles from the May/June 2009 issue of Foreign Affairs.

From the May/June 2009 issue of Foreign Affairs: Why the United States and China are not ready to upgrade ties.

Elizabeth Economy asks, "Can humankind find its way to a world that is cleaner, safer, and fairer than the one we inhabit today?"

Elizabeth Economy, CFR's director of Asian Studies, says that China's economy is now "losing steam very quickly" and that the "global economic crisis is going to make it much harder for China to address its own domestic economic problems."

Elizabeth C. Economy  writes that "China matters more to the world every day-not just on trade and finance but on climate change, food safety, nonproliferation and other global challenges."

Elizabeth Economy writes that "until China's leaders fix things at home, they can't really tackle the global problems abroad."

CFR's Elizabeth Economy and Adam Segal write that Chinese leadership in resolving the financial crisis is likely to be constrained.

This audio includes readings of selected articles from the July/August 2008 issue of Foreign Affairs.

Failure to plan for predictable problems has turned China's coming-out party into an embarrassment.

From the July/August 2008 issue of Foreign Affairs: Failure to plan for predictable problems has turned China's coming-out party into an embarrassment.

CFR’s Elizabeth C. Economy says there are increasing calls for more democracy in China and the Communist Party Congress will have to deal with who will become the so-called “fifth generation” of Chinese leaders.

If China ever agrees to binding greenhouse gas emissions caps, CFR’s Elizabeth Economy says the nation will need a “wholesale mindset change” to reach those goals.

China's environmental woes are mounting, and the country is fast becoming one of the leading polluters in the world. The situation continues to deteriorate because even when Beijing sets ambitious targets to protect the environment, local officials generally ignore them, preferring to concentrate on further advancing economic growth. Really improving the environment in China will require revolutionary bottom-up political and economic reforms.