Since 11 September the US has greatly adjusted its foreign policy in order to reduce its vulnerability to terrorist attacks, and the PRC, which after the end of the Cold War was regarded by the US as its most formidable adversary, has now become America's strategic partner.
尤其九一一事件後，美國為加強防範恐怖主義攻擊，外交政策已大步修正，對於冷戰後被美國視為最可怕強敵的中國大陸，如今已一轉而成美國的策略性「國際合作伙伴」。