The U.S. and China, 20 Years After the Hainan EP-3 Incident

MIN READSep 11, 2021 | 00:00 GMT

A U.S. Navy EP-3 surveillance plane.

(U.S. Navy/Newsmakers)

Twenty years ago, the United States and China faced off after a collision of military aircraft. The events of 9/11 rapidly reprioritized Washington's attention several months later, providing Beijing two decades to manage internal problems and reshape its foreign posture. As the United States is once again defining China as a strategic competitor, it does so opposite a China much stronger, more capable and more confident than it was in 2001....