Since the improvement in Chinese-American relations in the early 1970's, China has served as an important American strategic counterweight to the Soviet Union.

More than Britain, though, it has viewed its military strength as an important political counterweight to West Germany's economic might.

Let's not forget that during bad times the GLC was an important counterweight to Thatcherite policies - one reason it was popular and the main reason Thatcher got rid of it.

But he says it remains a compelling force and an important counterweight to the popular notion that the country is more divided than it used to be.

The Taliban have found favor with some American officials, who see in their implacable hostility toward Iran an important counterweight in the region.

The charter, which deals in broad terms with labor, welfare and other rights, has been supported by several governments as an important counterweight to the strong pro-business orientation of much of the integration program.

But others disagree, calling the new legal activism an important counterweight to the power and resources of corporations.

He could prove an important counterweight and political rival to the new mayor.

The monitoring of legality is an important counterweight to ensure that an accused is afforded the minimum rights according to the requirements of a modern democracy.

As the bishops with seats in the Council of the Realm grew in influence in the late middle ages, the royal clergy formed an important counterweight.