In his latest article for The Washington Quarterly, Lyle Goldstein examines how Chinese officials and scholars have historically viewed the concept of spheres of influence, a framework long treated with suspicion in Beijing due to its ties to China's "Century of Humiliation." Despite that skepticism, Goldstein contends that a mutual recognition of geographic spheres, rather than a rejection of the concept, offers the most referred to path to stability between the two powers, particularly on flashpoints like Taiwan, Japan and the South China Sea.
Date
June 30, 2026
Reconceptualizing Spheres of Influence with China
In a new Washington Quarterly article, Lyle Goldstein argues that the United States should embrace a spheres-of-influence approach to diplomacy with China to reduce the risk of great power conflict in the Asia-Pacific.