Colder times ahead for bilateral relationship
- Source: Global Times
- [21:53 February 02 2010]
- Comments
Illustration: Liu Rui
By Peng Guangqian
Alarm bells have gone off over the Sino- US relationship as 2010 unfolds.
On the one hand, the US shares more common interests with China in respect of global and regional security than ever before. It needs China's coordination and cooperation in preventing nuclear proliferation, dealing with the aftermath of the financial crisis, tackling climate change and cracking down on terrorism.
China's participation is not necessarily a fundamental solution to these issues. However, the situation may get worse without China's participation.
On the other hand, the US is also containing China to a greater extent. The Obama administration's "smart war" of soft offense and hard defense started at the beginning of this year. Washington is using the so-called smart power proposed by Hilary Clinton to challenge China on issues concerning China's key interests.
This will probably become an important characteristic of Sino-US frictions this year. There are at least six potential challenges that will threaten the Sino- US relationship.
The most immediate question is US arms sales to Taiwan. The US government announced a new arms package to Taiwan over the weekend. It's determined to go ahead with the sale and completely defy the feelings of and protests by the Chinese government and people.
US arms sale to Taiwan is not only interfering with China's domestic politics, but also indicates its intention to further improve and strengthen its own antimissile defense network in the Asia-Pacifi c region. Then there is the question of Dalai Lama. Obama will probably choose to meet with the Dalai Lama over Spring Festival, causing further frictions in the bilateral relationship.
Another question is trade protectionism. The US is trying to transfer the impact of its economic recession. This not only completely deviates from the principles of free trade that the US has been advocating, but also jeopardizes the interests of both the US and other countries.
The US may also take advantage of the appreciation of the yuan to disturb and control China's financial order and harm China's financial sovereignty. Fifth is the Google case. Google is merely a business. But after Google fired the first shot with their announcement, US government spokesman, and Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as well as Secretary of State Hilary Clinton all went into battle for Google.
This is indeed unusual and thought-provoking. The motive behind it was to seek a breakthrough in China's political firewall.
Some think that riving off an opening there is more effective than the use of millions of soldiers and several aircraft carrier battle groups. The Google case is quite complicated. It's only a beginning, and great storms are ensuing.
The US is also conducting military investigations in China's territorial waters in the South China Sea and unfolding an overarching strategic layout integrating sea and land.
This area is China's strategic pivot for national defense and energy base, and so has drawn strategic attention from the US.
