National interests play a significant and vital role in determining the objectives of states. These objectives can be of different type regarding the extent or nature of desires of state. Now if we talk about China then national interest are playing a major role in determining the objectives of the state. Some scholars even say that China’s objective is actually the shape of its national interests.

Particularly, if we analyse the national interests of China vis-à-vis US, then there are many aspects of national interest. These national interests have been built over the decades in order to determine its significance vis-à-vis US. The global position of US i.e. of Super Power is one of the key factors in determining the China’s national interests. The national interests of China vis-à-vis US includes having friendly relations with all the 14 neighbouring countries in order to stop the influence of US in the neighbouring countries regarding China. State sovereignty and territorial integrity is another national interest of China. China is of the view of protecting state sovereignty regarding the Xinjiang Muslim issue and Hong-Kong crisis, which it considers them to be their internal matters and knows how to resolve them accordingly. Stable development of economy and society is also one of the main national interest of China vis-à-vis US. If we talk about the China’s economy in the late 70’s then it was no more than 6% of the total GDP of US, and was of no threat to the US. That is why Henry Kissinger, who was US Secretary of the State, visited China in order to analyse the various aspects of initiating bilateral trade with the China. But in the current world scenario, the economy of China posses a threat to the US, especially after the overtaking of Japan’s economy by the US. Therefore, US is taking different measure in order to counter the China in the field of economy, which is also termed as Trade War and Cold War 2.0 between China and US.

Keeping the national unity of mainland China and Tibet, Xinjiang, inner Mongolia and Taiwan is another aspect of national interests of China. The issue of Muslims of Xinjiang has been highlighted by the Western media on different occasions with the help of US and US have some serious concerns regarding Human Rights violation in Xinjiang with Muslims. Since the 18th Party Congress, China has particularly staked out its positions on Taiwan, the South China Sea, and other issues concerning China’s major core interests. China has drawn a clear line of what is unacceptable and has acted forcefully to defend its core interests as well as its legitimate rights.

 After the analyzation of all the national interests which are mentioned above vis-à-vis US then they lead to the certain national objectives by the China. One of these objectives is global leader ambitions of China. By analysing all the above national interest of China then it is visible that they are approaching towards the world as a global leader. For this purpose, they have initiated many economic projects like OBOR (One Belt, One Road), institutions like AIB (Asian Investment Bank) etc in order to make dependency of the world over themselves and free them from the dependency of the US. Moreover, the above-mentioned national interests clearly express the global power desires of China.

Protection of Chinese Socialist ideology is one of the other objectives of China vis-à-vis US. In the current world order, China is following different political model, while on the other hand US is following different kind of political model. This led to the direct confrontation of two different political ideologies in International system. For this purpose, China is following and preserving the old socialist ideology of Mao Zedong. According to the Constitution of China, “the Communist Party of China is the sole leadership of the country. Under the leadership of the CCP and the guidance of Marxism‐Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought, the Chinese people of all nationalities will continue to adhere to the people’s democratic dictatorship and follow the socialist road.” The nature of the party leadership is that the party controls the entire country through its organization, its ideology, and its structural system. Xi repeatedly emphasizes that the party leads everything: the east and the west; the party is leading everything; the party is the leader in all seven aspects of industry, agriculture, business, education, military affairs, politics, and the party.

Now if we talk about the insecurities faced by the China vis-à-vis Us, then Realist paradigm would be better suitable to interpret the current insecurity scenarios of China. According to classical realism, ‘’Every rising power challenge the status-quo power and changes the world order.’’ US in the current scenario sees China as a revisionist power. Moreover, national interests of China serve this notion of revisionist state. This led to the facing of many insecurities by the China. Economic confrontation on different by the US has led to the ‘’Trade War’’ between China and US. US is putting many economic barriers and hurdles in the economic prosperity of China which is causing the problems for China and sense of insecurity has been built by the China vis-à-vis US regarding economic confrontation. China believes that the current order was created by Western – and by‐and‐large colonial – powers. Now the international order is moving toward multipolarity over time. China hopes that the future order will be one that is more suited to its own national interests. The United States believes that China’s long‐term goal is “overturning America’s global role.” A CIA official has made it clear that China wants to “replace the United States as the world’s leading superpower.” The United States officially lists China as a revision power and its main competitor and challenger. The 2018 US National Defence Strategy Report points out that “China is a strategic competitor using predatory economics to intimidate its neighbours while militarizing features in the South China Sea.”

Concludingly, if we assume the role of China in the current world order, then it can be assumed as an emerging Global leader at most of the economic forums especially in the field of economy, where they have made many achievements and were able to replace the Japan as an economic giant and even competing US at many economic forums. So, we can assume the further economic strength of China in the coming years and this will also lead to confrontations between the countries on many different forums apart from economic field.