The dance of two giants: History of modern relations between the United States and China

July 1942: Chinese Nationalist military leader Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek (1887 - 1975) with Madame Chiang (1897 - 2003) and US Lieutenant General Joseph W Stilwell at their meeting in Maymyo, Burma. It was at this meeting that the Chinese leader informed his military staff that General Stilwell would lead them in their stand against the Japanese forces. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)

BEIJING, CHINA: This file photo dated 01 October 1949 shows Mao Zedong proclaiming the founding of the People's Republic of China in Beijing. China will commemorate 50 years of Communist Party rule 01 October. AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read AFP/Getty Images)

21st September 1950: American military leaders General Hickey (L) and General Douglas MacArthur (1880 - 1964) talk at an airport in Korea. MacArthur is wearing a leather bomber jacket and is holding a pipe. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

CHINA:A Chinese soldier poses for an official photographer next to a portrait of Mao Zedong in April 1969 on the Soviet-Afghan border in the Xinjiang region, scene of clashes between Chinese and Soviet troops in early 1969. Mao, who was Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from 1935 until his death in 1976, launched in 1966 the \"Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution\", directed against those CCP \"party leaders taking the capitalist road\". Mao's shock troops were to be the Red Guards, principally middle-school and university students who were to draw inspiration from Mao himself-now supreme authority in all matters. (Photo credit should read AFP/Getty Images)

Female members of the American ping pong team watch match in progress between a teammate and a Chinese opponent during tournament held to signify improving political relations beween China & the US. (Photo by Frank Fischbeck//Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

BEIJING - FEBRUARY 22, 1972: Chinese President Mao Zedong shake hands with Richard Nixon after their meeting in Beijing, China on February 22, 1972 during Nixon's official visit to China. (Photo by AFP/Getty Images)

BEIJING, CHINA: Picture dated 12 September 1976 in Beijing and released by the Chinese official news agency with following caption: \"Peasants from Peking's outskirts, with boundless profound proletarian feelings, paying respects to the remains of the most esteemed and beloved leader Chairman Mao Zedong.\" (Photo credit should read AFP/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, : From right: Chinese modernizer Deng Xiaoping, US First Lady Rosalynn Carter, US President Jimmy Carter and Deng's wife, smile 31 January 1979 in White House in Washington D.C., during China's Paramount leader visit to the USA. (Photo credit should read AFP/AFP/Getty Images)

** FILE ** The bodies of dead civilians lie among mangled bicycles near Beijing's Tiananmen Square in this June 4, 1989 file photo. A candlelight vigil held annually in Hong Kong to mark the anniversary of the bloody crackdown on Tiananmen Square protests is expected to draw a larger than usual crowd in 2007, thanks to an unlikely source: a pro-Beijing lawmaker. (AP Photo/File)

Jounalists take photos on an F-16 figther jet during a military demonstration at the Chiayi air force base, southern Taiwan, 12 September 2007. The air force held a scramble drill to show its resolve to defend Taiwan from a simulated invasion by China. AFP PHOTO/Sam YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images)

ITHACA, NY - JUNE 10: President Lee Teng-hui of Taiwan (L) talks with Cornell University President Frank H.T. Rhodes 10 June as he leaves for home following a five-day visit to his alma mater. The US government granted Lee a special visa for his private visit, which came under protest from mainland China. AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read BOB STRONG/AFP/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, : Chinese President Jiang Zemin and US President Bill Clinton share a toast during a state dinner 29 October in the East Room of the White House. Jiang is on a six-city eight-day visit to the United States and is scheduled to meet with various US government officials. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO/Paul J. RICHARDS (Photo credit should read PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images)

BEIJING, CHINA: A protestor holds up a makeshift American flag and shouts anti-US slogans as thousands of angry Chinese march to the US embassy in Beijing 09 May 1999. Angry demonstrators among an estimated 20,000-strong crowd threw rocks and water bottles at the US and British embassies, breaking window in protest at NATO's bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO/Stephen SHAVER (Photo credit should read STEPHEN SHAVER/AFP/Getty Images)

SHENYANG, CHINA: Workers at a Chinese state-owned factory in Shenyang in China's northeastern Liaoning province 31 May 2000, produce shoes for a US company. Workers at this factory are paid three yuan (36 US cents) for each pair of shoes completed, instead of a monthly salary and benefits which will include insurance and housing allowance. US labour groups had expressed fears that liberalized trade with China would make it easier for US manufacturers to move factories to China and take advantage of low-wage workers. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO/GOH Chai Hin (Photo credit should read GOH CHAI HIN/AFP/Getty Images)

387851 03: Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld briefs reporters April 13, 2001 in the Pentagon in Washington, DC on the facts associated with the recent collision between the EP-3 Aries II reconnaissance aircraft and a Chinese F-8 fighter aircraft. Rumsfeld told reporters that the US spy plane was flying in a level position when the Chinese jet became aggressive and hit the US plane from below. (Photo by R.D. Ward/DOD/Newsmakers)

Redmond, UNITED STATES: Chinese President Hu Jintao (2nd L) listens as Microsoft China Vice-President Tim Chen (R) explains some new technology during hU'S visit to Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Washington 18 April 2006. Looking on AT left is Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates. REUTERS/Andy Clark (Photo credit should read ANDY CLARK/AFP/Getty Images)

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet greets supporters 17 October 2007 in front of the Capitol during festivities in Washington, DC. Tibet's spiritual leader received the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award bestowed by US lawmakers. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

BEIJING, CHINA - JUNE 02: U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, (L) talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao during a meeting at the Zhongnanhai on June 2, 2009 in Beijing, China. U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is in China discussing the global economic slowdown. (Photo by Andy Wong-Pool/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Timothy Geithner;Wen Jiabao