US-China Relations - 175. page

Researcher at Institutes of American Studies of China Academy of Social Sciences states that Obama’s policy toward China will most likely follow the transition that Bush made after 911. The article predicts that Obama will be low key in his China policy to avoid confrontation. During his term, the U.S.-China Economic Strategic Dialogue will be upgraded in rank and areas expanded. The article comments that it would be critical that Obama follows Bush in balancing the Congressional pressure and the White House position.

Source: Outlook, December 23, 2008
http://news.sohu.com/20081223/n261371205.shtml

International Herald Leader of Xinhua states that the United States holds the key to the U.S. –China military relations. The military relations are the most fragile, sensitive and vulnerable aspect of U.S.- China relations. Citing comments from military experts, the article states that the United States holds the key. “The problem is not China challenging the U.S. but the prejudice that the U.S. has against China.” “Every drawback in the military relations was caused by the U.S. interference with Chinese domestic affairs and infringement of China’s sovereignty.”

Source: Xinhua, December 5, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2008-12/05/content_10458234.htm

China Ministry of Education will provide 10 scholarships per year from 2009 to 2012 to New York State University.  The scholarships will enable undergraduates to study for one year in China.  The State’s authorities for administration of overseas Chinese students and related funding will be responsible for admission and enrollment into Chinese universities.

Source: Xinhua, December 4, 2008

http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-12/04/content_10456740.htm

Minister of Commerce expressed 4 major concerns during the 5th U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue: textiles free trade, advanced and new technology trade, categorization of China as market economy, trade barriers (antidumping and countervailing duty).  Minister Chen indicated at a press event that China’s exports has suffered to a great extent now as result of the financial crisis and that therefore the U.S., China and other countries should step up the opposition to trade protectionism.

Source: Xinhua, December 4, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-12/04/content_10457760.htm

On November 24, the U.S. Secretary of Labor Department Elaine Chao handed the Directorate Award from the International Emmy Awards to Hong Kong Phoenix TV’s CEO Liu Changle, as a compliment to his work of bringing Phoenix TV to the TV network of more than 150 countries and areas.

[Chinascope note: Pheonix TV has received the nickname of ‘little CCTV’ in some circles, as it shares similar reporting principles on many topics. Because it is based in Hong Kong, viewers in mainland China may regard it as an overseas TV station that is more independent though it follows the Party line on many topics.]

Source: Xinhua, November 25, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newmedia/2008-11/26/content_10414412.htm

A blogger of the “Great Nation Forum” from the People’s Daily website published an article discussing the intention of a U.S. plan for developing a space missile defense system. The article says, “U.S. Congress granted five million dollars recently to fund independent research for developing a space missile defense system. The analyst here believes that once the plan is started, it means the "Star Wars Plan” from the 1980s is coming back. This time, the Pentagon’s putative enemies are not only Russia, or Korea and Iran, but also China."

Source: people.com.cn, November 25, 2008
http://military.people.com.cn/GB/42969/58519/8403479.html

An article from Guangmin Daily criticized the United States for applying a double standard in handling the financial melt down in Wall Street versus the financial crisis tjat took place in Asia in 1997 and praised China for being a responsible nation. “At that time, the U.S. actively promoted the neoliberal economic model to tighten fiscal policy with little government intervention” the article said, “but during the current financial crisis, the U.S. government is taking a complete different approach which has seriously damaged the U.S.’s image in the world and it has been criticized as being an irresponsible nation.”

The article then praised China as a “responsible nation that has firmly followed the socialistic market path with Chinese characteristics”. It listed a number of actions that China took to stabilize the domestic economy and said that it has demonstrated itself as a sensible and responsible nation. The article concluded that: “after going through the economic crisis twice, it has made us further believers in the superior quality of socialist market economic systems. Therefore we can’t blindly worship the capitalist market economy anymore.”

Source: Xinhua, November 19, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/theory/2008-11/19/content_10378986.htm

Hu and Obama had a telephone conversation in the evening of November 8. Hu congratulated Obama for winning the presidential election. He praised Obama’s China policy where the importance of US-China relationship was emphasized, so was the cooperation between the two countries to work together through the global challenges and sharing the opportunity to grow.

“In the new era, China is willing to maintain the dialog with US at all levels, continue to develop strategic talks and increase cooperation in various areas.” Hu said. “We would also hope to further develop talks in handling the important international affairs, respect and care for each other and properly handle sensitive issues, such as the issue of Taiwan, so as to elevate our constructive cooperation to another level.”

Source: Xinhua, November 9, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-11/09/content_10328354.htm