U.S. engagement with China a 'strategic blunder': Mearsheimer

Nixon's visit 50 years ago made sense but later American policy did not, scholar says

John Mearsheimer, a professor at the University of Chicago and international relations scholar, says the U.S. 'foolishly' built China into a rival power. (Photo courtesy of London School of Economics)

MASAHIRO OKOSHI, Nikkei staff writer

February 21, 2022 02:19 JST

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. "foolishly" pursued a policy of engagement with Beijing after the end of the Cold War, University of Chicago professor John Mearsheimer told Nikkei, arguing this policy misstep has contributed to China's economic and military rise.

Known as a realist in international relations theory, Mearsheimer asserted in his 2001 book, The Tragedy of Great Power Politics, that the engagement approach taken by the U.S. would fail as an economically stronger China sought regional hegemony.