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US-China Relations - 119. page

Yan Xuetong: China Will Be a Superpower within 10 Years

In an article recently published on the People’s Daily website, China Economic Weekly interviewed Yan Xuetong, the Dean of the Tsinghua University Institute of Contemporary International Relations. Yan predicted that China will become a superpower by the year 2023 and the world will celebrate the Sino-U.S. bipolar structure. 

Yan said, “In the next decade, the main theme of Sino-U.S. relations will be competition, but the core content of this competition is different from the past competition between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. This is why Chairman Xi Jinping proposed to establish new Sino-U.S. relations among major powers. This new type of relationship among major powers, although different from U.S.-Soviet relations, is not exactly a friendly relationship. I will call it a ‘fake friendship.’”
Yan also said that China’s foreign policy change from the original one of hiding its intention to the new one of playing an active role is actually a change in direction. “In the past, our attitude was almost not getting involved in any international issues. We only engaged in economic cooperation with other countries and set diplomatic issues aside. Now we talk about both economic and security issues. Security issues have become even more important.” 
“Our country’s foreign policy in the past was to take the United States as the top priority. The relationship with the neighboring countries had to give way to the Sino-U.S. relations. From now on, relations with neighboring countries will be the top priority in our country’s foreign relations. Sino-U.S. relations should be subordinate to the periphery relations. … It is a fundamental change in our foreign policy.” 
“To prevent being isolated from the international community, China needs to adjust to the non-alliance policy. Strategic alliances can help China increase the number of its true strategic partners. By 2023, China will likely have established about 20 allies or strategic partnerships worldwide. While this is far less than the number of U.S. military allies, it is already beginning to take shape as a stable strategic alliance system.” 
Source: People’s Daily, November 19, 2013 
http://military.people.com.cn/n/2013/1112/c1011-23509340.html
Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Anti-America Documentary Silent Contest Portrays How the U.S. Infiltrates and Subverts China

The Chinese military’s National Defense University, the General Political Security and General Staff Departments, the Chinese Academy of Social Science, and the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations jointly created an anti-American propaganda documentary called, “Silent Contest.”  The movie was completed in June 2013, and widely circulated online for a brief period in October. Then starting on October 31, 2013, the Chinese mainstream media blocked it for reasons that are unclear. The movie asserts that the United States has used 5 methods to subvert China: 1) Political Infiltration, 2) Cultural infiltration, 3) Ideological infiltration, 4) Organizational infiltration, and 5) Political interference and social penetration.

According to the movie, the United States has been infiltrating and subverting China completely. The U.S. infiltration conspiracy is the cause of China’s complicated social conflicts, the CCP officials’ corruption, human rights protests, the spread of Christianity, and people’s advocatiing that China institute a constitutional government. The film also portrayed all the mainstream liberal intellectuals in society as political traitors, stating that these intellectuals who openly publish their opinions to oppose the CCP and betray the country are in the service of Western interests groups.

Source: Takungpao and NTDTV, November 5, 2013
http://news.takungpao.com/world/exclusive/2013-11/2013924.html
http://www.ntdtv.com/xtr/gb/2013/11/05/atext997620.html

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

BBC Chinese: U.S. Investors Are Losing Confidence in China

BBC Chinese recently reported that, based on survey results that the Chinese American Chamber of Commerce released, less than 30 percent of the members of the Chamber thought that the environment for investors is improving in China. Over the past few months, the Chinese government and the state-run media have criticized many foreign companies in a number of industries, such as medicine, infant formula, smart phones, and coffee products. The same survey conducted last year showed that 43 percent of the people questioned expressed the belief that the investment environment in China was improving. The Chamber suggested that the loss in confidence was partially related to the new regulations on foreign investments that the government implemented at the end of 2011. At that time, the government introduced many new limitations and a lack of transparency in government licensing processes. The Chinese American Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization that represents over 1,000 U.S. companies and over 3,500 individuals who have invested in China. 
Source: BBC Chinese, October 24, 2013
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/china/2013/10/131024_china_us_investment.shtml
Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

State Think Tank on Strategies for China’s Foreign Exchange Reserves

Zhang Ming, an official from China’s Academy of Social Sciences, suggested that China, as the largest creditor of the U.S. debt may be the key to stabilize the U.S. dollar’s exchange rate. 

Zhang said that, in the long term, the U.S. exchange rate rather than the U.S. Treasury yield is the determinant for China’s purchase of the U.S. Treasury debt, thus stabilizing the U.S. dollar’s exchange rate in the foreign exchange market. When the U.S. dollar’s exchange rate is under pressure to appreciate, China will buy additional U.S. Treasury bills to help depreciate the U.S. dollars. 
Zhang recommended that China should diversify its foreign reserves within its U.S. dollar assets, rather than changing into other currencies. Also China should buy credit default swaps or S&P Volatility Index (VIX) calls to hedge against the risk that the U.S. Government may default. China should also take action to reduce the growth of its foreign exchange reserves. 

Source: Financial Times (Chinese Edition), October 23, 2013 
http://www.ftchinese.com/story/001053040

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

People’s Daily: For the U.S. Government to Preach “Freedom of the Press” Is Hypocritical

An article appearing in the CCP’s mouthpiece, People’s Daily, made some comments about the U.S. freedom of the press. “Even with the ‘protection’ of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and even though it is regarded as the ‘gold standard’ of America’s soft power, the so-called ‘sacred inalienable’ ‘freedom of the press’ that the U.S. government preaches is, after all, hypocritical.”  As evidence, the commentary cited the Committee to Protect Journalists’ report which states that how the U.S. government dispenses harsh punishment to those who leak information and how it monitors reporters’ survey data poses a threat to freedom of the press. 

The article stated, “The relationship of the U.S. government to the media has never been cool. Sometimes [the government] applies more ‘soft intervention,’ such as making up some hidden news for the media. Sometimes it imposes ‘hard monitoring,’ such as suppressing some media and reporters. Even more common is the use of both together. Such intervention and monitoring have never stopped and will not be reduced in the future.” 

“Why is Washington so keen on exporting the concept of freedom of the press to other countries and even getting involved in promoting freedom of the press by itself? In addition to the consideration of adding the ‘superior system label’ to the United States, an important objective is to demonstrate the U.S.’s ‘political correctness.’ Once this so-called political correctness is combined with its powerful economic and military strength, it is not surprising [to see the U.S.] playing tricks, being preemptory, and using extortion.” 

Source: People’s Daily, October 22, 2013 
http://world.people.com.cn/n/2013/1022/c1002-23279889.html

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Xinhua Commentary: Japan-U.S. Alliance Is Moving Farther and Farther down a Dangerous Road

Xinhua published a commentary on the "2 +2" meeting of Japan and the U.S. held in Tokyo on October 3, 2013. The article said, “Japan and the U.S. expressed that they will cooperate in space and cyber-space, as well as in other new strategic areas and will complete the revision of the Japan-U.S. defense cooperation guidelines before the end of 2014. In addition, the United States welcomed the Japanese government’s amendment of its interpretation of the Constitution on collective self-defense, the implementation of its national security strategy, and the increase in its defense budget. One can see that Japan and the U.S. are intending to further strengthen defense cooperation and enhance the level of military integration. This indicates that the Japan-U.S. alliance is moving farther and farther down a dangerous road.” 

The commentary continued, “Needless to say, following the revision of the Japan-U.S. defense cooperation guidelines, the Japanese self-defense force (SDF) and the U.S. military will further implement military integration. SDF and the U.S. military will enhance cooperation in joint training, intelligence sharing, joint use of bases, and in other traditional areas. The scope of the Japan-U.S. alliance will also be expanded to new strategic areas in cyber-attacks and space cooperation. This means that the Japan-U.S. alliance will be greatly expanded both in depth and breadth. 

“The Abe regime has been seeking a major breakthrough in defense. … In this context, that the United States is adding fuel to the flames makes one wonder about its [ulterior] motives.  
“… Japan and the U.S. not only have not abandoned the Cold War mentality; on the contrary, they continue to strengthen military alliances, posing threats to regional peace and stability. This cannot help but cause people in the world and the Asia-Pacific region to be on high alert.” 

Source: Xinhua, October 3, 2013 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2013-10/03/c_117592230.htm

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

People’s Daily: So Many U.S. “Osprey” Come to the Asia-Pacific. What Prey Do their Claws Seek?

People’s Daily published a report about the U.S. deployment of the "Osprey" at a military base in Japan. Below is an excerpt from the report:

On September 25, 2013, the last of the second batch of United States Marine Corps’ 12 newly deployed "Ospreys" arrived at Futenma Airfield. This brings the total number of "Ospreys" that have settled down at the U.S. military base in Japan to 24. … [The U.S. move] once again caused widespread concern among all related parties in the surrounding areas. 
In less than a year’s time, the U.S. transferred such a large group of "Ospreys" across the oceans. It is clearly not to make a sightseeing tour, but to come for “fishing.” Why does the U.S. come here for “fishing?” What are the "Osprey’s" claws seeking? 
Senior U.S. officials did not disguise in the slightest the strategic purpose of the "Osprey." … U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Carter has stated publicly that the "Osprey" is indispensable to fulfilling Obama’s new strategy in the Asia-Pacific region, strengthening the Japan-US alliance, and enhancing the ability of deterrence. A former official of the U.S. State Department said directly to Japanese media that an important objective in deploying the "Osprey" in Japan is a joint "defense" of the Diaoyu Islands with Japan. Kyodo News reported that the U.S. government stated that the "Osprey" will significantly improve the strength of the U.S. Marine Corps [in Japan] and help counter the increasingly active Chinese maritime activities. 
The U.S. "Osprey" comes in droves, and keeps hovering in the sky around our country. We should not only pay attention to the "Osprey," but also be alert to the fisherman behind the "Osprey." Only by keeping vigilant and maintaining a firm hold on the shotgun will we be able to protect the "fish" from being harmed by the "Osprey." 

Source: People’s Daily, September 27, 2013 
http://military.people.com.cn/n/2013/0927/c1011-23058932.html

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

China’s State Media Welcome Merkel’s Reelection

China’s state media Huanqiu (Global Times) recently published an article about Germany’s chancellor, Angela Merkel, commenting on her reelection. The article stated that she is pragmatic in dealing with China and that in China-German relations she can provide a positive model [for other E.U. countries]. 

The article quoted a German scholar who stated that Merkel’s reelection is good news for China. Merkel wants to have a strong Europe so that it will form a new "world Triangle" with China and the United States. She would remain relatively independent of the United States. 

On September 23, 2013, Cui Jian, a scholar and researcher at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times that Merkel’s victory is "relatively good news" for China. First, Merkel’s reelection is sure to make Chinese authorities more comfortable. This is because if Germany changed its leader, both China and Germany would need a re-adaptation process. Now that Merkel has been reelected, existing German policy toward China can continue. Second, during the first two terms [under Merkel], China and Germany started some large cooperative projects. Merkel’s reelection at least ensures that these projects will not change direction. Cui Jian said that Germany has a very strong ability to learn. During the U.S. economic crisis, Germany was aware of the need to take China seriously. In addition, Merkel’s reelection and her warm bilateral relations with China will provide a positive role model for Europe. 

Source: Huanqiu, September 24, 2013 
http://world.huanqiu.com/exclusive/2013-09/4385028.html

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations