China has emerged as a leading economic power next only in importance to the US. It is seeking to achieve a military capability commensurate with its economic strength, but its military capability cannot equal that of the US for many years to come. The US has no reason to fear China’s growing military strength. Both can have their space in the Pacific without threatening each other. Hopes of a greater sense of realism and a greater comfort level between the two countries after Barack Obama assumed office in January 2009 have been belied. The expectations created after Obama’s visit to China in November 2009 have remained unfulfilled. The time has come for mid-course corrections in their policies towards each other by the two countries. President Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao should address this question during their talks in Washington DC.
These are broadly the themes voiced by governmental and non-governmental personalities in China as Hu started his current bilateral visit to the US on January 18—- his second since he took over as the Chinese President. The first was in April 2006, when George Bush was the US President.
Chinas military capability cannot equal that of the US for many years to come. The US has no reason to fear Chinas growing military strength.
The disquiet in the Chinese mind over the way the relations have evolved under Obama is evident from an editorial titled ” Sino-US relationship must be better defined” carried by the Communist Party-controlled “Global Times” on January 18, the day Hu arrived in Washington to be welcomed at the Andrews Air Force base by Vice-President Joe Biden. His only engagement on the day of his arrival was a private dinner with Obama. The State visit starts on January 19.
The “Global Times” wrote : “As the two most powerful countries in the world, China and the US should clarify their relationship, and lay speculations to rest. It is not easy to give this bilateral relationship a clear definition, but perhaps they can start from what it is not. The US has been running the table on how to position Sino-US relations. Former President Bill Clinton declared it a constructive strategic partnership. But it has retreated from those heady days. The word “partnership” is still mentioned, but no longer recorded in official documents, replaced by terms such as “constructive cooperation” or “stakeholders.” It shows the US’ misgivings in taking China as a friend. But is China a foe of the US? US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates openly stated that China is not a potential enemy of the US. Attempts to drive a wedge between the two countries have not gained traction in the US and the West. President Hu’s visit will be placed under a global microscope. It is good timing for Washington to declare that China and the US are not enemies today, and will not be in the future. This clarification will remove many uncertainties that may jeopardize global stability.”
It shows the US misgivings in taking China as a friend. But is China a foe of the US?
As Hu arrived, comments from US officials would not have been very encouraging for the Chinese. The emphasis was not on a strategic partnership, but on achieving a “workable” relationship.A curtain-raiser commentary on the visit by the Agence France Presse (AFP) said:”The White House has minutely planned the visit, with top members of Obama’s national security team, frankly laying out areas of disagreement – though also stressing the vital nature of workable relations to America’s future. Washington has also made clear it wants to talk to China about moderating its ally North Korea’s belligerence, and officials said they believe their pressure on Beijing on the issue might be beginning to show results. On Tuesday, the White House was forced to defend the decision to offer a state visit to Hu, despite the fact that the two sides appear to be as far apart as ever on crucial human rights questions. “We will continue to have difficult conversations, but necessary conversations that have to be had with China and we’ll do that again tomorrow,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters. “In order to make progress on certain issues you’ve seen the two countries work together, despite, again, continuing to have differences on things like continued economic growth and human rights.”
The remarks of Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, on the relations between China and the US made last week would not have been music to the ears of the Chinese. She was quoted as saying: “This is not a relationship that fits neatly into the black and white categories like friend or rival.We are two complex nations with very different histories, with profoundly difficult political systems and outlooks.”
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