"For four years following the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington on September 11, 2001,relations between the United States and the People’s Republic of China (PRC)appeared to be on a steadily rising course. As U.S. decisionmakers turned their attention to the urgent dangers of terrorism and proliferation, they seemed less inclined to view China as an actual or potential strategic competitor and more hopeful that, in the post–September 11 world, all the great powers would be'united by common dangers...[and] increasingly...bycommon values.' "(Quoted from paper)