But rarely, if ever, have two global powers been so intrinsically linked economically while sitting on different sides of so many other issues.
Start with the South China Sea, one of the worlds tensest geopolitical situations. Chinas aggressive seizures of land and building of artificial islands have caused alarm in the United States. The fear in Washington is that China could become a de facto hegemonic power, coming to dominate Southeast Asian nations who have competing territorial claims in the area but no real military might with which to back them up.
The South China Sea is also one of the worlds most important shipping waterways. Trillions of dollars of goods pass through it every year -- and the US is concerned that Chinas expansion could eventually allow them to control the waterways outright, and therefore the ability to impact the free flow of trade.
There are a host of other China issues facing Trump, including cyber security concerns and fears of Chinese currency manipulation. Many economists have said Chinas ongoing economic slowdown could have negative effects globally. And Chinas massive consumption of coal is contributing to global warming.
What should be Trumps top priority on China in the first 100 days?
The most immediate concern might not actually be China itself. Instead, look to the Philippines, where President Rodrigo Duterte is reversing decades of foreign policy tradition.
The US sees the Philippines as perhaps its strongest ally in Southeast Asia. But on a recent trip to Beijing, Duterte said he wants "separation from the United States," both economically and militarily, and pursue closer relations with China.
Both candidates had tough talk for China on the campaign trail.
Trump has focused his attacks mainly on Chinas economy, saying that Chinese economic policies have been responsible for millions of American jobs that have left the country. In May, he said: "We cant continue to allow China to rape our country, and thats what theyre doing." Strong rhetoric like that might make the first meeting between President Trump and President Xi Jinping awkward, to say the least.
Can Trump fix this in the first term?
No. Both countries are playing the long game in the South China Sea. Chinas new artificial islands, and the military equipment it has installed on them, arent going away anytime soon. And the US military, under a policy established with the help of then Secretary of State Clinton, has shifted more of its focus to China.
These are both long-term strategies, and both countries have the resources to implement them. Two global powers competing for influence over one of the worlds key strategic waterways is a struggle that will likely play out for some time.
How big a priority is China for CNN readers?
China is the number two international priority, according to a very unscientific poll of CNN readers who took part in our interactive feature on the 10 biggest global challenges facing the next President.
Yahoo: 
