九一一事件後，美國政府改變全球戰略佈局，反恐戰爭成為美國全球戰略最優先的議題，為了因應全球戰略的改變，美國也調整了中國政策內容。布希政府初期將中共定位為「戰略競爭者」，中美軍機擦撞事件後，布希政府將中美關係方向調整為「建設性合作關係」，但一直未具體落實，直到九一一後，美國調整對中共政策，與中共加速落實建設性合作關係，並積極尋求中共合作反恐，中共也表達善意，從政策宣示到實際行動，支持美國的反恐戰爭。 九一一事件提供美國加速改善與中共關係的契機，雙方進行多次高層交流，希希總統兩度造訪大陸，中美並恢復軍事交流，雙方互動密切。雖然雙方在合作反恐基礎上變善關係，但中美關係仍存在根本的差異，在人權問題、武器擴散、臺灣問題、飛彈防禦系統等議題上，美國並未因為尋求中共支持反恐而有所退讓。 與此同時，美國因為攻擊阿富汗而將影響力深入中亞，在軍事戰略上進一步擴及影響力到中共的西方邊境。反應在兩岸關係上，布希總統雖重申堅持一個中國政策，但仍多次發言強調支持臺灣，顯示美國並不因為爭取中共反恐而在臺灣問題上做出犧性臺灣的政策讓步。 總體而言，九一一事件促使美國調整全球戰略，短期內有效改善中美關係，但長期而言中共與美國的關係仍有歧見，在兩岸關係上，美國將更積極維護臺海和平，避免爆發區域衝突，影響美國的全球戰略部署。

　　　　　The USA government changed its grad strategy after September 11, with anti-terrorism becoming its first global strategic goal. In order to achieve this goal, the Bush government has sought to alter its policy toward China, and it now seeking China's support. The Bush government saw China as a "strategic competitor" at first, then changed Sino-American relations to one of "constructive cooperation" after the air-plane collision accident. After September 11, the US government further improved relations with china for support, China also made anti[terrorism statements and provided practical action to support the US. President Bush visited China twice, and china's Vice Chairman of State, Hu Jingtao, also visited the USA. Sino-American relations thus seemed improved immediately after September 11. But the fundamental differences still exist, and the Bush government has not altered its policies in regard to human rights, proliferation, the Taiwan issue, and TMD. At the same time American influence is sperading across Eurasia because of the anti-terrorism war. In the short-run, Sino-American relations improved after 11 September. In the long term, however, the profound disagreements between the two powers still exist. For the US, maintaining cross-strait peace is an important part of its global strategy.