US-China Relations - 132. page

Huanqiu (The Global Times, a publication under Xinhua) published an editorial following the U.S. State Department’s statement that publicly criticized China’s establishment of Sansha City and its creation of a new garrison in the South China Sea. The article stated, “It is well within China’s expectation that the U.S. is more and more obviously adopting a biased policy on the South China Sea issue that favors the Philippines and Vietnam. When the Philippines and Vietnam are more active, the U.S. remains relatively ‘neutral.’ When the Chinese take a little initiative, the U.S. immediately gives up its ‘neutral’ stand and jumps right in to ‘balance’ China. In general, the attitude of the U.S.  follows such a pattern.”

The article commented, “It is a fact that the U.S. is influential in the South China Sea, but it is also obvious that the U.S. cannot do what it wants. The Philippines and Vietnam has been very provocative and presumptuous toward China recently. It has already seen the potential impact of the United States. The era when the U.S. can blow up a storm in the South China Sea just by giving a mere hint is actually almost over.”

“The U.S. now openly condemns China’s establishment of Sansha City. It no longer has much influence. The U.S. may come up with sharper criticism in the future, but this will gradually be no more than trash talk. The actual impact (of the U.S.) on the South China Sea is decreasing.”

The article warned, “The South China Sea is not the Caribbean. Americans should be sober minded.”

Source: Huanqiu, August 6, 2012
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/1152/2012-08/2990673.html
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2012-08/06/c_123537467.htm

Xinhua published a commentary on U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to Africa. According to the commentary, during her speech in Senegal, Secretary Clinton implied that China is only interested in Africa for its natural resources. The commentary declared that her statement was untrue and that the Western countries are the ones that plunder Africa for its resources. It went on to state that the motive for her trip was to sow discord between China and African nations, to discredit China-Africa cooperation, and to restrain China’s influence in Africa.

Source: Xinhua,  August 3, 2012 reprinted by cnfol.com, August 6, 2012
http://gold.cnfol.com/120806/171,1988,12930479,00.shtml

People’s Daily published a commentary criticizing the statement that the U.S. State Department issued on August 3, 2012, on the South China Sea. It called the U.S. statement self-conflicting. It stated that the tactics the U.S. used were intended to drive a wedge between all the parties involved and to stir up trouble. It affirmed that China’s intention is to cooperate with all parties to peacefully promote stability and prosperity in the region. What China does not want is for U.S. to stir up trouble with ulterior motives.

(Editor: An AFP article describes the statement made by U.S. State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell on August 3, 2012. Ventrell said, for example, that China’s actions, "run counter to collaborative diplomatic efforts to resolve differences and risk further escalating tensions in the region …”)

Source: People’s Daily, August 4, 2012
http://world.people.com.cn/n/2012/0804/c1002-18668096.html
AFP, August 4, 2012
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22574:-us-criticizes-new-china-garrison-in-tense-sea&catid=81:news&Itemid=625

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