US-China Relations - 166. page

The International Herald Leader under Xinhua published an article recommending that China should follow the example of Russia and take the lead in China-US relations. “Although China now has greater room to maneuver and is taking more initiative, it is still in the mode of defensive diplomacy. At best, it has changed from ‘passive defense’ to ‘active defense.’” China cannot force the United States to work on a topic that is of concern to China in situations and through means that China is familiar with. The article concludes that China should learn from Putin and proactively create some “new topics” so that the United States will feel the need to seek us out and talk.

Source: Xinhua, April 12, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2010-04/12/content_13340595.htm

Xinhua recently republished an article by PLA Life Magazine, authored by popular military commentator, Zhang Zhaozhong, on who will be the next U.S. war target. The article started with the story that the CIA helped Saddam Hussein obtain the ruling power and pushed the war against Iran. Then, after a failed war against Iran, the U.S. tacitly agreed to Saddam’s plan to invade Kuwait as a trap. The Bushes attacked Iraq to sustain control of the region by having a pro-US government. The war in Afghanistan afterwards was to completely remove Russia’s influence and to “put a knife in China’s back.”

The author considers Obama’s peaceful look to be a “political smoke bomb.” The article looked back into U.S. history and concluded that there was no US president that never had a war. Therefore Obama will not be an exception. Zhang predicts the U.S. will not let Iran be the strongest military power in the Middle East.

Source: Xinhua, April 6, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2010-04/06/content_13308134.htm

Xinhua commented on the US Nuclear Posture Review Report released April 6, that it is a positive factor for the promotion of international nuclear security. “But the US has not changed its thinking as a global hegemony; non-nuclear countries do not reduce their own nuclear power; nuclear terrorism is increasingly serious; Obama’s nuclear policy is under the constraint of its domestic politics – all these are obstacles to overcome for the world’s nuclear security.”

Source: Xinhua, April 8, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2010-04/08/content_13318014.htm

The First US-China Party Leadership Summit took place in Beijing on March 31. Chief of the International Liaison Department of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Wang Jiarui, represented the Chinese side. Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former Assistant Secretary of State Richard Williamson represented the U.S. Democratic Party and Republican Party, respectively. Wang introduced the Chinese political system and suggested that the US-China relationship should focus on key interests to avoid constant damage by “some events.” The U.S. representatives agreed on the importance of the relationship between the two nations, and explained the functions of parties in U.S. politics and how US parties operate in the States. Williamson believed that parties do have different political views while they all face similar tasks for the prosperity of the nation.

Source: Xinhua, March 31, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2010-03/31/c_1211391.htm

Global Times published a Xinhua article on March 31, 2010, introducing an article from a Russian journal, “The major strategic mistake the West has made in the past 20 years is its incorrect assessment of China’s potential and ambition.”

It said that “China’s GDP at purchasing power parity conversion has increased from 4.8 trillion in 1999 to 8.8 trillion U.S. dollars in 2009.” However, “China’s economic flaws and uneven development require China to take a tough political line. Otherwise, the conflicts that have accumulated in China will manifest.”

The article stated, “The U.S. estimates that the deadline for the U.S. to beat China in a war is 2017.” However, “the decline of Western civilization will give China a better chance to become the undisputed world leader within the next 30 years.”

Source: Global Times, March 31, 2010
http://world.huanqiu.com/roll/2010-03/762920.html

Economic Information Daily, which is related to Xinhua News Agency, published an article on March 26, 2010, regarding the global responses to “America’s increasing trade protectionism.” Song Hong, Director of the International Trade Research Office at the Institute of World Politics and Economy in the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said, “China also has potent weapons to deal with U.S. trade protectionism.”

Song Hong pointed out from the trade perspective, “China can impose restrictions on the imports of American agricultural products, aircraft and others. China can also decrease its holdings of U.S. Treasury bonds.” Song further said, “From the non-economic perspective, the United States needs China’s support on the Iran and North Korean nuclear weapons issues.” “In addition, promoting a free trade zone in Asia is another of China’s options,” reported Economic Information Daily.

Source: Economic Information Daily, March 26, 2010
http://www.jjckb.cn/gjxw/2010-03/26/content_213869.htm

Xinhua recently published an article suggesting that the U.S. is the country unloading the financial crisis burden onto other countries by manipulating the dollar exchange rate. During 2005 and 2008, the Chinese currency, the RMB, had an appreciation of 20% against the U.S. dollar, while the trade surplus increased. Then last year, the RMB exchange rate remained stable, while the trade surplus decreased. This was considered proof that a higher RMB exchange rate does not help U.S. exports. The author believes that the U.S. is taking advantage of the dominant position of the U.S. dollar to increase the cost of Chinese exports, thus increasing the competitiveness of U.S. products in the domestic market.

Source: Xinhua, March 26, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2010-03/26/content_13249503.htm

Global Times, one of China’s official websites, reported on March 25, 2010, that the Google incident is overstated in the West and some Western media such as the “San Francisco Chronicle” and “The Wall Street Journal,” are maliciously discussing “how to deal with China.” Chinese analysts believe that, when conflicts occur, Westerners are united by these media to pressure China.

Global Times also reported that the U.S. government’s attitude is actually backing down on this matter except for Secretary of the State Hillary Clinton’s initial pressure on China’s Internet freedom. Now, the Google incident is only Google’s challenge to the Chinese government. Chinese netizens are now becoming calmer and calmer about the Google incident. Those sympathetic voices toward Google are weakening and the words are not as sharp.

Source: Global Times, March 25, 2010
http://world.huanqiu.com/roll/2010-03/755597.html