China’s modern government was created in 1949 when Mao defeated the Nationalist Government and a provisional constitution was instituted. In 1954 this document was used as the basis for the actual constitution adopted by the first National People’s Congress. The Communist Party holds all governmental power and there is no division between the party and the government.

The United States supported Chiang Kai-Shek and the Nationalist Government because of the strong anti-communist stance held by the U.S at that time. The National Government opposed Mao Zedong and his communist supporters. The United States feared the implications of a communist China.

All of China’s governmental power lies with the Communist Party within a hierarchical system. The National Party Congress has over 2,000 members who are selected by party members throughout China. It elects a Central Committee, which elects a smaller Politburo of 25 members. The Politburo is responsible for the creation of the Communist Party policy. The Secretariat includes the General Secretary and handles daily operations. Within government, the Communist Party is divided into the National People’s Congress and The State Council. The National People’s Congress has around 3,000 members who are elected for five year terms. The State Council, which is far more powerful, is the main apparatus of the executive branch.

The elite Politburo is responsible for the creation of all policy. The other groups that work on legislation are the standing committees of both The National People’s Congress and The State Council who work on legislative proposals throughout the year. Most authority resides with The State Council whose legislative decisions are law. The National People’s Congress, while nominally the highest authority in the Chinese Constitution, essentially just passes the legislation of The State Council and Communist Party.

Despite striking differences between the two governments, the countries of China and the United States have found themselves linked through growing economic ties. According to the Department of Commerce, imports from China to the United States grew 9.3% between 2016 and 2017. Exports to China grew 12.4% during that same period. (Trade.gov) China is one of the United State’s top trading partners. These growing economic ties occur simultaneously to, and in tension with, conflicting foreign policy aims.