2016年，中美關係大體保持了穩定。9月3日，在G20杭州峰會期間，習近平主席與奧巴馬總統舉行了會晤。這是奧巴馬兩屆任期內最後一次來到中國，是他與習主席的第八次會晤。兩位元首就雙邊、地區和全球問題全面、深入地交換了意見，對話持續了五個多小時。雙方肯定了中美關係近年來在發展經貿關係、應對氣候變化、建立兩軍交流互信機制、打擊網絡犯罪、應對非洲埃博拉疫情、推動伊朗核問題達成全面政治解決等方面取得的重要進展，並同意要建設性地管控分歧，推動中美關係持續健康穩定發展。會後發表了《中美元首杭州會晤中方成果清單》，列舉了35項成果，這是對奧巴馬兩個任期中美關係的一個總結，也是下屆美國總統任內中美關係的出發點。

近年來，習近平與奧巴馬推動兩國在引領全球應對氣候變化方面建立了歷史性的夥伴關係，使這種合作成為中美雙邊關係的一大支柱。兩國率先批准了《巴黎協定》。9月3日在杭州，兩國向聯合國秘書長潘基文交存了各自參加《巴黎協定》的法律文書，為推動《巴黎協定》儘早生效作出了重大貢獻，獲得國際社會的普遍讚揚。兩國元首承諾繼續採取有力度的國內行動，以進一步推動國內國際兩個層面向綠色、低碳和氣候適應型經濟轉型。

2016年，兩國各種交流機制正常運轉。在過去七年多中，中美戰略與經濟對話對於兩國拓展合作、管控分歧至關重要。6月6日至7日，第八輪中美戰略與經濟對話、第七輪中美人文交流高層磋商在北京舉行。習近平主席在開幕辭中回顧了從2013年“莊園會晤”以來兩國構建新型大國關係的進展，強調“無論國際風雲如何變幻，我們都應該堅持這個大方向，毫不動搖為之努力”。針對許多亞洲國家不願意在中美之間選邊，習近平特別指出，兩國應該“努力培育兩國共同而非排他的'朋友圈'，都做地區繁榮穩定的建設者和守護者”，顯示了中國領導人睦鄰友好的善意和豁達胸懷。對話進展順利，雙方就有關問題取得了廣泛的共識。第七輪中美人文交流高層磋商取得了158項成果，涉及教育、科技、文化、衛生、體育、婦女和青年七個領域。

兩軍交往繼續開展，今年美方再次邀請中國海軍參加環太軍演。中方派遣了5艘艦艇、3架艦載直升機、1個特戰分隊和1個潛水分隊，於6月29日至8月4日在美國夏威夷參加由美國主導的“環太平洋-2016”演習，參加了包括火炮射擊、綜合演習、海上安全行動、水面艦艇演練、軍事醫學交流、人道主義救援減災和潛水在內的七個課目。

在聯合打擊網絡犯罪方面同樣取得進展。12月7日，中美第三次打擊網絡犯罪高級別對話在華盛頓舉行。雙方就推進打擊網絡犯罪、網絡安全合作、完善熱線聯絡機制、網絡反恐合作、情報信息共享等達成廣泛共識，並提議2017年在中國舉行第四次對話。中國國務委員、公安部長郭聲琨指出，雙方應堅持把對話機製作為兩國就網絡問題開展溝通交流的主渠道，聚焦合作，管控分歧，及時有效回應各自關切，實現不衝突不對抗、相互尊重、合作共贏。美國司法部部長林奇、國土安全部部長約翰遜表示，希望雙方在現有基礎上延續和發展好這一機制，進一步開展務實合作，共同打擊網絡恐怖主義和電子郵件詐騙等網絡犯罪行為。

2016年奧巴馬政府繼續實施亞太“再平衡”戰略，繼續攪局南海，並與韓國商定在半島部署“薩德”反導彈系統，在中美關係中製造了新問題。

美國繼續實行所謂“航行自由計劃”，派遣其艦隊來南海地區“巡航”，遭到中方嚴正批評。7月12日，菲律賓南海仲裁案仲裁庭作出了裁決，美國藉機對中國施加壓力，奧巴馬政府高官為此連連發聲。但與此同時，奧巴馬政府也感覺到，美國在南海問題上的做法已經觸及了中方的底線，而且菲律賓新任總統杜特爾特在南海問題上立場與前任阿基諾三世不同，在最終裁決出台前後，他多次表示願意就南海爭端與中國展開對話。在這種情形下，奧巴馬政府開始採取措施降溫。7月25日，國務卿克里在老撾萬象東亞合作系列外長會議期間會見王毅外長，並公開表示現在到了使緊張降溫，把這一頁翻過去，開始使用各種外交途徑來解決問題的時候了。此後，南海的緊張氣氛明顯降低。

杜特爾特總統今年6月就任總統以來發表了許多言論，抨擊美國對菲律賓內政的干涉，表示不願意繼續做美國的“棕色小夥伴”，要與中國、俄羅斯加強關係。由於菲律賓在南海的戰略地位，杜特爾特的這種政策轉變對美國的“再平衡”戰略是一個沉重打擊。但奧巴馬政府繼續尋求加大“再平衡”的力度，尤其是國防部長卡特，抓住奧巴馬任期最後這兩三個月，不放過任何機會來強化這個戰略。9月29日，卡特在停泊在聖地亞哥母港的美國“卡爾·文森”號航母上發表講話宣稱，美國將繼續與盟友和夥伴在一起，將繼續在國際法允許的地方飛越、航行與活動，並稱“再平衡”戰略已經進入第三階段，美國將提升美國軍事存在的質量，促進亞太地區建成一個有原則的開放的安全網絡，使美國軍隊成為這一地區最強大的軍事力量。

2016年中美兩國間另一重大爭議是美國在韓國部署“薩德”反導系統問題。朝鮮半島局勢近年來持續緊張，進入2016年局勢更加惡化。1月6日，朝鮮進行了第四次核試驗，朝鮮自稱這是一次成功的氫彈試驗，美國等也認為此次核試驗標誌朝鮮在核武器領域取得了重要進展。 2月7日，朝鮮又利用遠程導彈技術發射了“光明星4號衛星”。美國趁機大力鼓吹在韓國部署“薩德”系統。3月4日，美韓成立聯合工作組，開始正式協商部署事宜。4個月後，7月8日美韓軍方發表聯合聲明，宣布了部署決定，並稱最晚將於2017年末正式投入使用。中方堅決反對美韓決定，一再指出“薩德”決不是單純的技術問題，而是不折不扣的戰略問題。在韓國部署“薩德”將對半島形勢、地區穩定及中韓關係造成嚴重負面影響。為了反制“薩德”反導系統，2016年5月，中俄在俄羅斯舉行首次'空天安全2016'聯合計算機演習，預防領土受到彈道導彈和巡航導彈的意外和挑釁性攻擊。中俄還將於2017年舉行第二次反導聯合演習。

11月8日，美國大選塵埃落定，共和黨候選人特朗普勝出，給中美關係帶來了新的不確定因素。12月2日，特朗普接到了台灣領導人蔡英文打來的祝賀電話，這一舉動打破了中美關係正常化37年來的慣例，受到美國輿論界的廣泛質疑，中國方面也予以嚴厲批評。白宮和國務院的發言人一再重申美國的一個中國政策沒有改變。從奧巴馬政府到特朗普政府中美關係能否實現平穩過渡牽動着中美兩國民眾的心。

China-US relations were generally stable in 2016. On his last presidential visit to China, US President Barack Obama had his eighth meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the G20 summit in Hangzhou. Over more than five hours, they had in-depth discussion about bilateral, regional and global topics of concern. They affirmed the important progress the two parties have achieved in recent years in developing economic and trade ties, coping with climate change, building military exchange and mutual-trust mechanisms, cracking down on cyber crimes, dealing with the Ebola pandemic in Africa, and facilitating a comprehensive political resolution of the Iran nuclear issue. They agreed to constructively manage differences and promote continuous, healthy, steady development of China-US ties. The 35-item Chinese “Checklist of Achievements of the Hangzhou Summit of Chinese and US Heads of State” was a summary of China-US relations during Obama's two terms of office, as well as a starting point for bilateral ties in a new US presidency.

Over years, Xi and Obama facilitated the countries' historic partnership in leading the global response to climate change, making it a significant pillar of bilateral ties. After ratifying the Paris Agreement, both leaders have promised to continue taking forceful moves at home to promote transition to green, low-carbon, climate-adaptive economies at both domestic and international levels.

In 2016, all exchange mechanisms between the two countries functioned well. In the past seven years, China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue has proven critical for expanding cooperation, managing differences. The 8th China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue and 7th China-US High-Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange were held in Beijing on June 6 and 7. In his opening speech, President Xi reviewed progress in endeavors to formulate a new type of major-country relationship, emphasizing adherence to the direction no matter what changes take place in international relations.Seeing that many Asian countries don't want to take sides between China and the US, Xi pointed out both countries should cultivate “common rather than mutually exclusive” circles of friends, and be “builders and custodians of regional prosperity and stability”. The dialogue proceeded smoothly, resulting in extensive consensus on issues of common concern.

Military-to-military exchanges continued, and the US side again invited the PLA Navy to participate in the RIMPAC. The Chinese side sent five vessels, three ship-based helicopters, one special warfare detachment, and a diving unit to participate in the drill in Hawaii from June 29 to August 4.

Progress was also made in joint crackdown on cyber crimes. The third high-level dialogue on fighting cyber crimes was held in Washington D.C. on Dec 7. The two sides reached extensive consensus on cracking down on cyber crimes, cooperating on cyber security, improving a hotline mechanism, and cooperating on online anti-terror projects and intelligence sharing. They proposed to hold the fourth dialogue in 2017.

In 2016, the Obama administration continued implementing its “pivot” to the Asia-Pacific, muddling the waters in the South China Sea, and decided to deploy the THAAD system in the Republic of Korea, creating new troubles for China-US relations.

The US continued its “freedom of navigation operations”, dispatching fleets to the South China Sea on “patrol” missions, inviting solemn condemnations from China. Taking advantage of the Permanent Court of Arbitration's ruling on the Philippines-initiated arbitration on July 12, the US mounted pressure on China. Seeing that its conduct has touched China's bottom line, and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has expressed willingness to come into dialogue with China over the South China Sea, the Obama administration had to move to cool things down. On July 25, during their meeting in Vientiane, Laos, US State Secretary John Kerry told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi it was time to turn the page and solve problems by diplomatic means. Tensions over the South China Sea have eased considerably thereafter.

Given Philippine President Duterte's aversion to US interference in his country's internal affairs, as well as the Philippines' strategic position in the South China Sea, Duterte's policy change proves a heavy blow to the US pivot. Yet the Obama administration, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter in particular, is missing no opportunity in the remainder of Obama's presidency to consolidate the strategy. On Sept 29, aboard the USS Carl Vinson in San Diego, Carter declared US “rebalancing” has entered Phase 3, saying the US will improve the quality of its military presence in the Asia-Pacific, and make the US military the strongest military force in the region.

Another major issue between China and the US in 2016 was the THAAD deployment in South Korea. Persistent tensions on the Korean Peninsula deteriorated in 2016. On Jan 6, North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test, which Pyongyang claimed was a successful H-bomb test, one that the US believed to mark a major step forward in Pyongyang's nuclear pursuit. On Feb 7, North Korea launched a satellite using long-rage missile technologies. The US availed itself of the opportunity to trumpet its deployment of THAAD in South Korea. On July 8, US and ROK militaries issued a joint declaration, announcing the system will be put into operation by the end of 2017 at the latest. China resolutely opposed this, stated repeatedly that deploying THAAD in South Korea is not a simple matter of technology, but one of strategy, and its deployment will seriously affect regional stability and China-ROK ties. In response to THAAD, China and Russia conducted their first joint computer-based drill “Space Security 2016” and agreed to hold a second joint anti-missile exercise in 2017.

Donald Trump's win in the US presidential election brought new uncertainties to China-US relations. By receiving the call from Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen on Dec 2, Trump broke a 37-year-old norm in effect since China and the US established diplomatic ties, which has not only raised concerns at home, but received harsh condemnation from China. Spokespersons of both the White House and State Department have repeatedly stated there is no change in the US government's “one-China” policy. People in both countries are waiting to see whether China-US relationship can transfer smoothly from the Obama presidency to the Trump era.