Harold Isaacs’ work on American perceptions on China (and India), while not specifically about US-China relations, focused on how images and perceptions (of key events then) had taken root in the minds of US policymakers, and shaped their views, reactions and responses towards China (Issacs, 1958); thus, making his work invaluable for researchers working on international relations, identity, and ideological conflict studies. Issacs’ work is important for two reasons. The second will be expounded later in the chapter. The first is offering us a view of US relations with ancient China, their first contact being in 1784. While this initial period could be described as limited, with a few exchanges between the two countries, there was still some level of engagement, and based on their interactions, were no less colourful. Rhys Richards (1994) describes US-Sino relations from 1784 beginning with the voyage of the Empress of China till 1814, which was driven by trade, particularly ginseng, furs, and silver, tea, porcelain, and silk. Ghosh (1976) extends his period of study till 1929, tracing the evolution of relations particularly around trade, and how economic interests, political developments, and global events influenced those relations. Of note, Ghosh touches on the impact that the Opium Wars, the Treaty of Wangxia, and the Open Door Policy, had on Sino-American economic ties, diplomacy and in the broader context their international relations. The Wangxia Treaty mentioned above was identified by Ghosh as an important turning point. Following the lead of others, particularly the hegemon of the day, Britain, the US formalised the Treaty of Wangxia in 1844. It was the first formal treaty between the United States and the Qing Dynasty of China and marked the beginning of official relations between the two countries. It not only secured trading rights but one undertaken under the Most-Favoured-Nation principle, as Ghosh states,