US-China Relations - 138. page

Huanqiu published an article suggesting that, now that the U.S. has reentered the Asia Pacific Region, China should adjust its geographic strategy in reaction to U.S. strategy.

The article called Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s recent visit to Myanmar a significant move in U.S. Asian policy. It stated that the U.S. has changed its strategy towards China’s neighboring countries, following the end of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, a change that targets China. The move has the purpose of preventing China from surpassing the U.S. in Asia. The article suggested that China should revisit its geographic strategy. An example it gave was that China could express its intention of building a strategic partnership with Afghanistan by opening the Wakhan Corridor and having China’s development of the Kashgar Economic Zone include developing an economic cooperation plan with Afghanistan. China could also form a strategic agreement with Afghanistan and Pakistan. In the long run, China should advocate forming a five-country dialog and establishing economic cooperation with Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, and India so as to revive the “Historic Silk Road.”

Source: China Review News, December 1, 2011
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1019/2/1/8/101921899.html?coluid=148&kindid=7550&docid=101921899&mdate=1201000712

The International Herald Leader interviewed Yan Xuetong, a professor at Qinghua University in Beijing and Director of The Institute of International Studies. In the interview, Yan advocated that China should form alliances with other countries. He suggested that if China continues its non-alliance policy and does not provide security protection to others, China will not be able to expect support from others if its national security interests are threatened. He also suggested that ideology has no bearing on forming alliances with other countries. Even though Vietnam shares the same ideology as China, it is not China’s ally. The US and Saudi Arabia have totally different ideologies, but they have been allies for dozens of years.

Soruce: International Herald Leader reprinted by Xinhua, December 5, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2011-12/05/c_131284250.htm

The International Herald Leader, which is under Xinhua News Agency, published an analytical article regarding the U.S. decision to decrease aid to China. The article asserted that the U.S. government’s aid to China will gradually decrease in public, but funding to support “the promotion of human rights and democracy” will increase behind the scenes. The article said, “‘Aid to China’ is not so simple and filled with good will. … A considerable number of the programs for China aid that the the U.S. Congress has approved are so-called ‘democracy aid’ and ‘human rights aid.’ Some human rights religious NGOs conduct clandestine activities and even support some of the dividing forces or anti-China forces. … In the new international situation, such aid is an important means for the U.S. government to realize its interests utilizing its soft power.”

Source: International Herald Leader, December 2, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2011-12/02/c_131282523.htm

On December 5, 2011, Xinhua News Agency’s Outlook Weekly published an article commenting the U.S. strategic movement to the East, including President Obama’s 9-day visit to the Asia-Pacific areas, his attendance at the East Asia Summit, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s “historic visit” to Myanmar, and the trilateral dialogue between the United States, Japan, and India which is coming up in December. “Economically, the United States uses the Trans-Pacific Partnership to reshape the Asia-Pacific economic order and force itself into the Asia-Pacific market.” In security, the United States tries to be the ‘referee’ on South China Sea issues and accelerates the adjustment of the Asia-Pacific military deployments.”

The writer of the article, however, gives a long list of constraints inside and outside of the United States which will result in the U.S. having to reduce its attention and involvement in the Asia-Pacific areas in 2012. The listed constraints are the cold relationship between the U.S. and Russia, the mess in the Middle East and North Africa, the deterioration of the U.S. – Pakistan relationship, the huge U.S. budget deficit, the “Occupy Wall Street movement,” and the 2012 election.

Source: Xinhua News Agency Outlook Weekly, December 5, 2011
http://www.lwgcw.com/NewsShow.aspx?newsId=24874

A Xinhua article discussed China’s options regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). According to the article, on the one hand, in urging the TPP countries to increase their labor costs, the U.S. is attempting to increase the competitiveness of its manufacturing. On the other, it is pushing the TPP countries to purchase U.S. products so as to revive the U.S. manufacturing industry. What should China do? “We should be clear that without China, the TPP cannot represent the Asia-Pacific region and the U.S. will receive no meaningful benefits. We have joined the WTO and have the FTA in place. Therefore, we will not lose anything if we do not join the TPP. However, without China, the TPP, not China, will be marginalized in international trade.”

Source: Xinhua reprinted by Guangming, November 29, 2011
http://big5.gmw.cn/g2b/world.gmw.cn/2011-11/29/content_3064085.htm

On November 28, 2011, Xinhua News Agency’s Outlook Weekly published an article titled “The U.S. Intention in Increasing Its Military Presence in the Asia-Pacific Region.” According to the article, the U.S. intends to build political and economic partnerships favorable to U.S. interests in the Asia-Pacific region through strong military measures in order to ensure the stability of the U.S. hegemony.

The article stated, “Barack Obama is just like other U.S. presidential candidates in the past who, without exception, also dealt with China in a way calculated to win the votes of the domestic right-wing forces. …. The recent increase of the U.S. military presence in the Asia-Pacific region can also be viewed as an integral part of Obama’s campaign for his presidential re-election.”

Source: Xinhua News Agency’s Outlook Weekly, November 28, 2011
http://lwgcw.net/NewsShow.aspx?newsId=24712

An article in the November 18, 2011, issue of People’s Daily overseas edition discussed [China’s] three concerns about the U.S. “return” to East Asia. The first concern is that it may change the current cooperation model. The cooperation in East Asia has been under the ASEAN model for many years. After joining the East Asia cooperation, will the United States become host in a quest to challenge the “East Asia Model” and promote the “American Model?” This is a big question mark. The second is the introduction of sensitive political security issues. The U.S. claims very openly that it will focus on promoting political security cooperation at the East Asia Summit. Overly introducing political security issues, particularly controversial issues, will not only fail to help the development of East Asia cooperation. On the contrary, it may intensify regional conflicts. The third is that it may cause a dispute between China and the U.S. Many scholars believe that the U.S. “return” to East Asia is to cope with the rise of China and prevent China from becoming dominant. In the current situation, whether China and the U.S. will develop a relationship that involves mutual respect, is mutually beneficial, and will cooperate as partners will directly impact the progress of future East Asian cooperation.

Source: People’s Daily, November 18, 2011
http://world.people.com.cn/GB/14549/16292444.html　

Xinhua published an article asking, “Recently, the U.S. has been making high profile announcements that this is “America’s Pacific century,” and claims to be returning to the Asia Pacific region. What is its true strategic intention?”

Huai Chenbo, a scholar at the Center for World Affairs of the Xinhua News Agency, stated that, when the U.S. claims to be a leader in the Asia Pacific, it is actually targeting China. The U.S. does not hide its strategic intention or its arrangements. As China rises and China’s relationship with ASEAN countries grows closer, the U.S. feels China is increasingly becoming a threat to its hegemony. Therefore, the purpose of the U. S.’ strategic move eastward is to contain China and neutralize China’s development.

Peng Guangqian, deputy general secretary of the China Policy Science Research Institute, believes that the U.S. is speeding up the implementation of its military strategy to target China. The intention is to contain any potential opponent that can challenge the U.S. and thus maintain its global hegemony. Huai believes that the U.S. military deployment in Australia appeared to be an independent event, but it is actually part of the whole plan of moving to the East.

Source: Xinhua, November 16, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2011-11/16/c_122288378.htm