CHINA-U.S. relations have gone through a number of twists and turns over the last 40 years to arrive where they are today. A good metaphor for these relations is a powerful river. In spite of the submerged obstacles of trade disputes,human rights differences,military suspicions and the Taiwan issue poking up above the surface every now and then to stymie the flow of the river and create eddies,the torrent’s flow is unaffected on its course.