Abstract
This thesis examines how China–U.S. relations evolved from a manageable strategic rivalry into a more rigid and increasingly difficult form of competition after the Obama administration’s “Pivot to Asia.” It argues that traditional explanations such as power transition theory alone cannot fully explain the deterioration of the relationship. Instead, the study introduces the concept of techno-nationalism, where technological leadership becomes tied to national identity, economic security, and geopolitical power, particularly in areas such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and supply-chain security. Through historical analysis and policy tracing, the thesis develops the concept of strategic entrapment to explain how both Washington and Beijing have become politically and institutionally constrained from de-escalating rivalry, even when continued escalation produces diminishing strategic benefits. Taiwan serves as the central case study because it sits at the intersection of geopolitical competition and technological dependence through its critical role in the global semiconductor industry. Ultimately, the thesis argues that contemporary China–U.S. competition is becoming structurally rigid, limiting diplomatic flexibility and making stabilization increasingly difficult without addressing the deeper political and technological forces driving the rivalry.
","abstract_html":"<p>Abstract</p> <p>This thesis examines how China–U.S. relations evolved from a manageable strategic rivalry into a more rigid and increasingly difficult form of competition after the Obama administration’s “Pivot to Asia.” It argues that traditional explanations such as power transition theory alone cannot fully explain the deterioration of the relationship. Instead, the study introduces the concept of techno-nationalism, where technological leadership becomes tied to national identity, economic security, and geopolitical power, particularly in areas such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and supply-chain security. Through historical analysis and policy tracing, the thesis develops the concept of strategic entrapment to explain how both Washington and Beijing have become politically and institutionally constrained from de-escalating rivalry, even when continued escalation produces diminishing strategic benefits. Taiwan serves as the central case study because it sits at the intersection of geopolitical competition and technological dependence through its critical role in the global semiconductor industry. Ultimately, the thesis argues that contemporary China–U.S. competition is becoming structurally rigid, limiting diplomatic flexibility and making stabilization increasingly difficult without addressing the deeper political and technological forces driving the rivalry.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Munya, Prince Y, Mr."],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Arts (M.A.)","degree_level":"Thesis","degree_discipline":"International Relations","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Jean Krasno","Kimberly Gamble-Payne"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2026,"date_issued":"2026-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2026-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:58:13Z","subjects":["Techno-Nationalism","Strategic Entrapment","Taiwan","Defense and Security Studies","Economic Policy","Policy History, Theory, and Methods","Political Theory"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cc_etds_theses/1312","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Jean Krasno","Kimberly Gamble-Payne"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Munya, Prince Y, Mr."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2026-05-11T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["International Relations"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Arts (M.A.)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Techno-Nationalism","Strategic Entrapment","Taiwan","Defense and Security Studies","Economic Policy","Policy History, Theory, and Methods","Political Theory"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cc_etds_theses/1312"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Abstract
This thesis examines how China–U.S. relations evolved from a manageable strategic rivalry into a more rigid and increasingly difficult form of competition after the Obama administration’s “Pivot to Asia.” It argues that traditional explanations such as power transition theory alone cannot fully explain the deterioration of the relationship. Instead, the study introduces the concept of techno-nationalism, where technological leadership becomes tied to national identity, economic security, and geopolitical power, particularly in areas such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and supply-chain security. Through historical analysis and policy tracing, the thesis develops the concept of strategic entrapment to explain how both Washington and Beijing have become politically and institutionally constrained from de-escalating rivalry, even when continued escalation produces diminishing strategic benefits. Taiwan serves as the central case study because it sits at the intersection of geopolitical competition and technological dependence through its critical role in the global semiconductor industry. Ultimately, the thesis argues that contemporary China–U.S. competition is becoming structurally rigid, limiting diplomatic flexibility and making stabilization increasingly difficult without addressing the deeper political and technological forces driving the rivalry.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["China-U.S Relations: Techno‑Nationalism, Strategic Entrapment, and Taiwan."]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Jean Krasno","Kimberly Gamble-Payne"],"dc:creator":["Munya, Prince Y, Mr."],"dc:date.available":["2026-05-11T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Abstract
This thesis examines how China–U.S. relations evolved from a manageable strategic rivalry into a more rigid and increasingly difficult form of competition after the Obama administration’s “Pivot to Asia.” It argues that traditional explanations such as power transition theory alone cannot fully explain the deterioration of the relationship. Instead, the study introduces the concept of techno-nationalism, where technological leadership becomes tied to national identity, economic security, and geopolitical power, particularly in areas such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and supply-chain security. Through historical analysis and policy tracing, the thesis develops the concept of strategic entrapment to explain how both Washington and Beijing have become politically and institutionally constrained from de-escalating rivalry, even when continued escalation produces diminishing strategic benefits. Taiwan serves as the central case study because it sits at the intersection of geopolitical competition and technological dependence through its critical role in the global semiconductor industry. Ultimately, the thesis argues that contemporary China–U.S. competition is becoming structurally rigid, limiting diplomatic flexibility and making stabilization increasingly difficult without addressing the deeper political and technological forces driving the rivalry.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cc_etds_theses/1312"],"dc:subject":["Techno-Nationalism","Strategic Entrapment","Taiwan","Defense and Security Studies","Economic Policy","Policy History, Theory, and Methods","Political Theory"],"dc:title":["China-U.S Relations: Techno‑Nationalism, Strategic Entrapment, and Taiwan."],"thesis:degree_discipline":["International Relations"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Arts (M.A.)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:58:13Z"}