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US foreign policy is transitioning toward a framework of “pragmatic realism” that prioritizes American power and a repositioning within a multipolar world, according to Wu Xinbo. Wu, the dean of the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University, suggests this shift will lead to China-US relations defined by “process management” and “dynamic stability.”
What defines the shift toward pragmatic realism?
Wu Xinbo states that a second Trump administration would likely see Washington redefining its foreign policy goals. Rather than adhering to previous ideological frameworks, the United States would base its objectives on its actual capacity for power. This involves a fundamental redesign of America’s foreign strategy to better suit a multipolar global environment.
According to Wu, this transition represents an important period of adjustment for the United States. As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, its strategy is being recalculated to find an appropriate position in a world where power is no longer concentrated in a single center.
Wu Xinbo is a leading Chinese researcher on the United States and currently serves as the dean of the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai.
How will China-US relations evolve?
The relationship between the two nations is expected to move toward “dynamic stability,” Wu says. This follows a period of intense maneuvering between Washington and Beijing over the past year. Instead of seeking total alignment or outright conflict, Wu suggests the two sides may focus on “process management” to maintain a predictable relationship.
This shift is driven by the Trump administration’s overall realist foreign policy mindset. This mindset seeks to manage the complexities of the bilateral relationship through practical, power-based interactions rather than purely diplomatic or ideological ones.
The impact of a multipolar world
The move toward pragmatic realism is closely tied to the changing structure of global power. Wu notes that the US is seeking a “more appropriate repositioning” as the world moves away from unipolarity. In this context, US foreign policy is no longer just about maintaining a single standard of global leadership, but about managing interests within a competitive, multipolar landscape.