US-China Relations - 148. page

Xinhua published a headline news article in its world section, commenting on how the U.S. political system is at fault during this time of the ongoing U.S. debt limit crisis.

The article said, “Whether the U.S. will default on its debt obligation has entered the countdown time, but the politicians in Washington have not shown any signs of compromise. … The uncertainty created by the Elephant & Donkey Fight (the partisan struggle) overshadows the world economy. “The U.S. Congressional representatives from both parties openly fight a war of words at the expense of the nation and the people’s interests. It is actually playing a ‘dangerous game.’ As the August 2 ‘deadline’ nears, the struggle brings great worries to the American people and the world.” “Although most analysts predict the two parties will reach a compromise at the last minute, nobody can be sure that U.S. will be able to keep its AAA sovereign credit rating. U.S. President Obama also admits that if the U.S. credit rating is downgraded, it is because Washington lacks a political system that is compatible with a AAA credit rating.” “… the Elephant & Donkey Fight, which overlooks global responsibility, has created new risks. In the end, it will also hurt the Americans themselves.”

Source: Xinhua, July 30, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2011-07/30/c_121747426.htm

According to an article in Outlook Weekly written by Li Zheng of the Institute of American Studies at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, China faces at least three important challenges in the South China Sea dispute. “The first important test is how to handle neighboring small countries. In reference to the South China Sea issue, Vietnam has the most intense conflict with China, followed by the Philippines and Malaysia. … The second test is how China will comply with international law and fulfill its international obligations. … The third important test is how China will co-exist with the United States in Southeast Asia and engage in healthy strategic competition. … The United States has intervened in the South China Sea dispute, directly targeting the ASEAN, not China. Therefore, there is no direct conflict with the United States, but there are competing interests.”

“If China can successfully deal with these challenges, the South China Sea will become a powerful example of China’s peaceful rise. However, if it is the opposite, China will spend a lot of national power on the South China Sea dispute, eroding China’s international reputation and enhancing anti-Chinese sentiment in the neighboring countries. The dispute could become a ‘long-term problem,’ or even a ‘power trap.’”

Source: Outlook Weekly, July 26, 2011
http://www.lwgcw.com/NewsShow.aspx?newsId=22294

Huanqiu recently interviewed a Chinese scholar, the Vice President of the Institute of International Relations at China’s People’s University, who commented on the South China Sea situation. The scholar believes that the ultimate solution to the South China Sea crisis is to drive out the United States; however, China needs time to gather its strength to do that. He said that implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea would represent positive progress and might reduce the tension of the South China Sea crisis. “However, differences between China and other parties to the dispute still exist. The South China Sea dispute is so complex that a consensus by itself will not remedy the situation. A controversial political atmosphere that does not allow compromise has emerged within the countries involved in the dispute. The external factor of the U.S., which has always wanted to take the lead in Southeast Asia, should not be ignored. For China, one of the options is to drag things out. China needs more time to gather its strength so that it can ‘drive out’ the United States and other outside forces. Only then will it be possible to find the ultimate solution to the South China Sea issue.”

Source: Huanqiu, July 22, 2011
http://mil.huanqiu.com/Observation/2011-07/1839703.html

Huanqiu, a newspaper under Xinhua, published an editorial commenting on the Western media report about the Hetian incident in Xinjiang on July 18, 2011. The article said, “After the incident of a violent attack against police, the (Chinese) government immediately announced the incident and characterized it as a premeditated terrorist attack. Overseas media instinctively ascribed the incident to the category of ‘conflict between Uighurs and Han Chinese,’ claiming ‘China suppressed the Uighurs in the name of anti-terrorism.’”

“The Hetian Incident once again tells Chinese that we should never harbor any illusion that the West will support China’s anti-terrorism. The West, though not openly, has already become the de facto instigator or even friend of China’s terrorism. In the anti-terrorist issue, China may well be isolated for a long time.” 　　

The article concluded, “To deal with violent terrorism, the government must be resolute and not allow the terrorists and overseas sympathizers any illusions. Let them call names if they want to. What the rising China cannot get around and therefore is not afraid of is the abusive, name-calling voices.”

Source: Huanqiu, July 20, 2011
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/roll/2011-07/1833197.html

Xinhua republished a commentary from Tibet-online on the Obama meeting with the Dalai Lama. The article claims that Obama’s actions “hurt others without any benefit to himself.” The article said, “Since Obama took office, he has been oscillating without determination on the strategy and attitude of how to ‘contain’ China. In the beginning, he wished to use the flexible ‘smart power’ strategy to seek ‘change by contact,’ and actively looked for China’s unconditional cooperation in international affairs, regional conflicts, and environmental protection. China’s refusal exposed the Obama administration’s true face of inheriting the American style of hegemonic thinking. He then started to implement the strategy of forcefully pressuring China from all directions so as to contain China’s development. He used the ‘suppressing China card’ to obtain a politically active status and votes.”

“Ignoring the feelings of 1.3 billion Chinese, … Obama not only severely damaged the Chinese people’s sentiments and improvements to the Sino-U.S. relationship; he also let the Chinese once again witness America’s ‘ruthless’ and hegemonic thinking of using the excuse of the ‘Tibetan issue’ to interfere in China’s internal affairs  He once again destroyed many people’s political illusion about the U.S.”

Source: Xinhua, July 20, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2011-07/20/c_121696758_3.htm

Huanqiu published an editorial on the current negotiation between the U.S. President and Congress to increase the national debt ceiling. “Although analysts believe that Obama and Congress ultimately will ‘definitely’ reach an agreement, they dare to use their sovereign credit as a rubber ball on a playing field, and dare to hold hostage China, Japan, Germany, and the many countries that have bought U.S. Treasury bonds. Imagine how unbalanced this world is!”

“There must be more restrictions placed on the prerogatives of the United States. It would require that the world join hands in fighting the U.S. as well as that the United States awaken. The self-serving nature of the U.S. dollar as the sovereign currency is incompatible with the role of internationalism that it plays. … Wall Street used to be the recharger of the U.S. economy and has now become a smoke-filled common gaming house and a school for thieves. Power cannot sustained unreasonable things for long. The United States should awaken.”

Source: Huanqiu, July 16, 2011
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/roll/2011-07/1826399.html

Outlook Weekly, a magazine under Xinhua, published an article commenting on the visit to China by Admiral Mike Mullen, the Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff. The article claimed that the Sino-U.S. relationship has entered a period in which both sides accommodate each other. It stated that there are still several legacy issues (caused by the U.S.) impacting the Sino-U.S. relationship: U.S.’ arm sales to Taiwan, military surveillance of China under China’s nose, restrictions on Sino-U.S. military exchanges, political discrimination against China, restrictions on high-tech exports to China, criticism of China’s political system, military alliances in Asia, and involvement in its ally’s territorial disputes with China.

It also warned that new issues may emerge. “Along with China’s continuing to rise in power and expand its national interests, … the chances of friction or collision developing between the two countries are increasing.”

Source: Sohu, July 18, 2011
http://news.sohu.com/20110718/n313762556.shtml

Some overseas Chinese organizations in the United States have echoed Beijng’s outcry and lashed out at the Obama-Dalai Lama meeting, saying it hurts the overseas Chinese people’s feelings.

He Xiaohui, the executive deputy president of the Washington D.C. branch of the China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Unification, said, “Overseas Chinese in the United States insist on maintaining national reunification, and oppose any separatist act. The Tibetan issue is China’s internal affair; no country or no person is allowed to interfere.”

Ye Yubin, deputy chair of the Union of Chinese American Professional Organizations, said, “The Tibetan issue is China’s internal affair and should be decided by the Chinese people themselves. Obama’s meeting with the Dalai Lama is interfering with China’s internal affairs. Overseas Chinese firmly oppose any separatist act and support peace and the reunification of the motherland.”

Source: Xinhua, July 17, 2011.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-07/17/c_121678738.htm.