A rapid turn of events over the past few weeks has seen Washington make a high-profile and aggressive return to re-assert its leadership in the Asia-Pacific region, with Beijing clearly on the defensive on issues ranging from trade to the South China Sea disputes.
This has once again reignited concerns that Sino-US ties are heading for more volatile waters as a flustered Beijing could be forced to reassess its diplomatic priorities and adopt more confrontational policies.
So far, Beijing's public reactions have been largely mild, as mainland analysts and officials outwardly put on a brave face and privately fume about Washington's stepped-up efforts to 'contain' China.
But in reality, Beijing is unlikely to overreact by making any major policy change in its diplomacy towards the US or its Asia-Pacific neighbours, despite Washington's increasingly aggressive stance.
The overseas media has portrayed Washington's pushback against Chinese influence in the region as a big setback for Beijing and has suggested mainland leaders were rattled by the flurry of US initiatives.
Even mainland analysts admitted Beijing was caught off guard by the recent US moves, including Barack Obama's confrontational approach to China by raising territorial disputes in the South China Sea at the East Asia Summit in Bali, Indonesia.