US-China Relations - 131. page

In an op-ed published on People’s Daily, a Chinese scholar laid out the strategies the U.S. will use against China over the next five to ten years.

“… the United States will make greater use of non-military means to delay or interfere with the process of China’s rise in order to reap strategic benefits, revive its national strength, and ensure its hegemonic position. Its main tactics will include: comprehensively breaking into China’s tertiary industries to reap huge financial benefits while controlling the lifeline of the Chinese economy; using the yuan exchange rate as a breakthrough point and opening up China’s financial and insurance market as an interim goal; under the banner of ‘Internet Freedom,’ abandoning the traditional ‘top-down’ mode of promoting democracy in China, and, instead, aiming to infiltrate the grassroots of Chinese society with a ‘bottom-up’ approach, allying with human rights lawyers, underground religions, political dissidents, Internet opinion leaders, and marginalized social groups, to create conditions for ‘change’ in China; enhancing its partnerships and strengthening its relations with allies; sowing discord between China and North Korea, Pakistan, and Burma; re-launching U.S.-Russia relations, so as to put China in a diplomatically disadvantageous position; weakening the external environment for China’s rise and squeezing the strategic space for China’s rise; using issues in the ‘global domain’ such as ‘sea, air, sky, and web’ as the starting point to promote related dialogue mechanisms and develop guidelines so as to essentially weaken the strategic challenges from China in the above areas.”

The article did not give the name of the author, but identified him as Director of the Institute of American Studies under the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations.

Source: People’s Daily, July 31, 2012
http://ccnews.people.com.cn/n/2012/0731/c141677-18636091.html

Huanqiu published a commentary on Obama’s activities in Asia over the past four years. It stated that, in less than three years, the U.S. has completed the initial phase of the formulation, promotion, and implementation of transferring its strategic priority to Asia and the Pacific region. The commentary contends, however, that such a move has destabilized the region. “The Obama administration has implemented a two-faced policy of exchanges and cooperation, along with deterrence and containment.” It has carried out “frequent military moves in order to quickly restrain China. The U.S. politicians have politicized trade disputes and those pertaining to cultural exchanges. Political biases in the U.S. have entangled or destroyed potential opportunities for cooperation.” The commentary further cited examples of the U.S. activities that have had a destabilizing effect, such as “sowing discord and forming gangs” among Asian countries and increasing the U.S. military presence in Australia.

Source: Huanqiu, July 24, 2012
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/1152/2012-07/2944180.html

Although Europe has a debt crisis, the small European countries have escaped unharmed because of their particular advantages. They thus provide a rare investment opportunity for Chinese enterprises that are looking to invest overseas. In recent years, Chinese investments in Europe have grown rapidly. Some small European countries have become the favored targets of Chinese enterprises because projects there are plentiful. Among these countries, Denmark’s unique taxation system has given it an advantage in attracting foreign investments. The infrastructure development of Denmark’s Greenland and the Faroe Islands make them among the best investment choices for Chinese investors. Chinese companies are also paying attention to Romania’s agriculture and Poland’s construction industry.

Source: International Herald Tribune (Xinhua), July 12, 2012
http://ihl.cankaoxiaoxi.com/2012/0712/60017.shtml

The International Herald Leader published an article advocating that China be aggressive to make up for its weak military position. The article stated that it is wrong for a weak party to avoid confrontation with a strong opponent. “Patience in the face of a powerful and strong-willed combative opponent is useless because the party that wants to avoid resolving the problem by force cannot prevent a war …” The appeasement policy may also encourage the opponent to take a tougher stance and resort to military action. If China were to wait for the time when it is stronger than the U. S. before taking action in the South China Sea, China would be tying its own hands and feet. “China should demonstrate sufficient resolve to confront the U.S. intimidation tactics, such as visits by U.S. warships to sensitive countries and bilateral and multilateral joint military exercises. It should not retreat when both parties are merely exchanging words in the conflict.” The article concluded with a quote from a military strategist, “If your sword is shorter, you should take a step forward.”

Source: International Herald Leader, July 12, 2012
http://ihl.cankaoxiaoxi.com/2012/0712/60019.shtml

Epoch Times reported that, in the morning on July 12, 2012, sina.com, a Chinese social media, removed the popular miniblog (weibo) account of the U.S. Consulate in Shangahi. A search by the Epoch Times staff of the weibo account at sina.com returned the following: “Search result cannot be displayed due to relevant law, regulations and policy.” Apparently the weibo account of the U.S. Consulate spokesperson was also deleted. Searches for “U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong,” “U.S. Embassy in China,” “Embassy in China,” and "Embassy” at sina weibo returned errors saying the search results could not be displayed.

Sources:
Epoch Times, July 12, 2012
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/12/7/12/n3634182.htm
http://t.qq.com/USConsulateShanghai

People’s Daily published several articles on U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s Asian visit, that was due to take place from July 5 to 18, 2012, and cover 8 countries around China. “Looking at the itinerary, it appears that she will visit all of the countries that surround China. Such an itinerary is questionable. Is this a new trick for the United States to win over the small countries and to contain a large country?” On a follow-up commentary, People’s Daily stated that the United States should “exercise restraint over its impulse to preach democracy.” “The reality has demonstrated that it is precisely because some Asian countries copied the American democratic system that these countries now have serious problems, leading to slow development. Even today some of these countries have not yet recovered.”

Source: People’s Daily, July 12, 2012
http://world.people.com.cn/BIG5/n/2012/0712/c1002-18500638.html
http://world.people.com.cn/n/2012/0712/c1002-18498337.html

China’s state-run media hit back at U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for the comments she made calling for greater democracy in Asia. The official People’s Daily ran an editorial, “Washington Should Restrain Its Impulse to Preach about Democracy.” The editorial stated:

“Who gave the Americans the position to comment on democracy in Asia in such an arrogant manner? Americans may not want to dwell on this issue and may even think that this is a question that should not be asked. It is precisely the illusion on this issue that may lead to the failure of the U.S. strategy of ‘returning to Asia.’”

“Some of the U.S.’s recent practices were apparently designed to prove the legitimacy of its dominant position in Asia. Engaging in military exercises and increasing its troops stationed in the region were to shape its role as security provider; holding the banner of ‘democracy’ and ‘human rights’ was to maintain its so-called moral leadership.”

“However, the more the U.S. cannot wait to do this, the more it can be seen that the U.S. is worried about losing something in Asia. There are two issues that caused Washington not to understand the reason why the U.S. feels it has alienated Asia and needs to ‘return’: on the one hand, in a relative sense, the U.S. has reduced its investment in this region; on the other hand, the region’s political and economic structure has undergone significant changes, so the position of the U.S. will be different.”

“If the U.S. moves against the general trend of cooperation in Asia, if it always shows up acting the role of preacher, if it always condescends to find fault with democracy in Asia and even wants to form a ‘team’ to contain the development of China, it will ultimately become marginalized.”

Source: People’s Daily, July 12, 2012
http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrb/html/2012-07/12/nw.D110000renmrb_20120712_1-03.htm