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In the mid-1960s, when the world was dominated by the two superpowers — the United States and the Soviet Union — China routinely described their relationship as one of “colluding and contending” for power and influence. 

That was the view of a China that was economically weak and diplomatically isolated. Today, things are very different. The Soviet Union no longer exists and the world's top two powers are now the United States and China, a rising superpower.

No one uses the phrase “colluding and contending” to describe their bilateral relationship, though that would not be too far off the mark. But the United States, at least, is quite willing to characterize the relationship as one of “cooperation and competition.”

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