Obama’s Absence at Military Parade Shows a Touch of Pettiness

Published in Huanqiu
(China) on 3 September 2015
by Xu Xiujun (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Nathan Hsu. Edited by Helaine Schweitzer.
On Sept. 3, a military parade was held in Beijing's Tiananmen Square to commemorate the 70th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. As one of several events being held to commemorate the victory, the parade was a grand and stately display of how the Chinese people stand shoulder to shoulder with people all over the world in their will, resolve, and capability to safeguard peace. At the same time, the ceremony also was a wake-up call for people of every nation to better take to heart the lessons learned from history, bring together greater common understanding and positive energy, and be even more steadfast in protecting and encouraging world peace. For these reasons, the Chinese-hosted event received widespread support, with the leaders of 31 other nations and 10 international and regional institutions in attendance at the military parade, altogether hailing from five different continents.

Notably, U.S. President Barack Obama was absent from the main platform. Still, this is no reason to doubt the Americans' desire and resolve in valuing peace and pursuing justice. As a crucial force that helped decide victory in the World Anti-Fascist War 70 years ago, the American people paid a terrible price and made enormous contributions in service of obtaining that victory. We should similarly not suspect the U.S. government of overlooking or marginalizing the sacrifices and contributions made by the Chinese people toward gaining victory during World War II. After all, it was only shortly before the military parade that U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice visited China and repeatedly conveyed that President Obama and the United States think highly of the Chinese people's great contributions during World War II and the deep friendship forged between the two nations.

But as friends or partners, common convention dictates that aid should be sent in times of need, and joy should be shared in times of celebration. Today, China is holding a grand commemoration of victory in the War of Resistance, and for such a happy occasion, it is reasonable for well-wishing friends to join in the festivities when they can lay claim to that same victory. While U.S. leaders did not make an appearance at the military parade, despite a lack of prior obligations, perhaps we should not read too much into things. But for President Obama, who has expressed on many occasions his willingness to help maintain the stable development of relations between the United States and China, one cannot help but feel it is a shame. In comparison to the leaders of other nations involved in World War II who were happy to attend, such a regrettable outcome casts U.S.-Chinese amity in a rather wan light. Moreover, despite China's proposal of a new model of great power relations between the two nations based on less conflict and confrontation and on greater mutual respect, cooperation, and mutual benefit, the United States has made little effort to reciprocate.

The reason for this is that the United States has yet to adjust its mentality in the face of an increasingly powerful China and acclimatize itself to standing eye-to-eye with emerging nations. Over the past 70 years, China has not only continually been an active contributor to safeguarding world peace but has also accomplished feats of economic development that have awed the world, in one stride becoming the world's second largest economy with its overall power and international influence ever on the rise. When faced with the 2008 financial crisis and increasingly glaring problems on a global scale, China proactively participated in efforts to respond, playing a key constructive role and demonstrating the mien of a responsible power. The United States always expects much from the constantly growing China in terms of sharing the burdens of duty and responsibility, but when it comes to sharing authority and reaping dividends, the United States tends to adopt the conservative air of a vested interest. Its stubborn obstructionism in attempts to reform the International Monetary Fund's outmoded voting share schemes is one such example and is another fundamental reason why U.S.-China relations have experienced some turbulence of late.

In sum, with a little less apprehension and wariness and a little more trust and cooperation, the United States will be able to show the rest of the world the magnanimity of a superpower, reduce the occurrence of regrettable situations, and gain very tangible benefits for itself. The U.S.-China relationship is one of the most important bilateral dynamic relationships in the world today — the extent of its influence having long since surpassed that typical of relations between two nations. A healthy and stable progression forward in their relationship will be a boon to not just their people but also the world population at large. And to realize such a goal, it will be necessary to go with the flow in the course of history and the changing of the age. We must accept realities as they are and use communication and dialogue to strengthen trust, dispel doubts, and deepen cooperation to ensure that the U.S.-China relationship stays on the right track toward becoming a new model of relations between great powers.

The author is a senior research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of World Economics and Politics.


  2015年9月3日,纪念中国人 民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利70周年阅兵仪式在北京天安门广场举行。作为中国纪念抗战胜利活动的一部分,阅兵仪式以隆重和庄严的形式向全世界展示了 中国人民同世界人民一道捍卫和平的决心、意志和能力,同时也警醒各国人民更好地从历史中汲取经验和教训,凝聚更多的共识和正能量,更加坚定地维护和促进世 界和平。正因如此,中方举办的纪念活动得到了国际社会的广泛响应和积极支持,31个外国领导人以及10位国际和地区组织负责人出席阅兵仪式,出席嘉宾遍及 世界五大洲。
  值得注意的是,美国总 统奥巴马却未现身阅兵主席台。虽然,我们不能因此质疑美国人民珍惜和平、追求正义的意愿和决心。70年前,作为决定世界反法西斯战争胜利的重要力量之一, 美国人民既为取得战争胜利付出了巨大代价,也为战争胜利作出了巨大贡献。我们似乎也不应怀疑美国政府忽略或低估中国人民为二战胜利作出的牺牲和贡献。因为 就在阅兵前不久,美国总统国家安全事务助理赖斯(Susan Rice)访华时曾在多个场合表示,奥巴马总统和美方高度评价中国人民在二战中作出的巨大贡献和美中两国结下的深厚友谊。
  但作为朋友或伙伴,按照常理,有困难时应相互帮助,有喜事时应共同分享。今天,中国隆重纪 念抗战胜利,对于这样的喜事,朋友的道贺并且在有条件的情况下登门庆祝乃情理之中。在没有其他特别活动安排的情况下,美国领导人缺席阅兵仪式,对此或许不 宜作过多解读。但对多次表态愿与中方一道保持两国关系稳定发展的奥巴马总统来说,这不能不说是一个遗憾。与那些与中国人民抗日战争和世界反法西斯战争有关 国家的领导人欣然出席相比,美中两国的友谊因为这一遗憾而显得相形见绌。并且,对于中方近年提出的构建不冲突、不对抗、相互尊重和合作共赢的中美新型大国 关系,美方反映也不甚积极。
  究其原因,面对日益强大的中国,美国尚未调整好心态,尚未习惯与新兴国家平等相处之道。 70年来,中国不仅继续为维护世界和平作出了积极贡献,还取得举世瞩目的经济发展成就,一跃成为世界第二大经济体,综合实力和国际影响力不断提升。在 2008年金融危机和日益凸现的全球性问题面前,中国积极参与应对,发挥了重要的建设性作用,充分展现了负责任大国形象。对于日益强大的中国,在分担义务 与责任时,美国往往寄予厚望,而分享权力和利益时,美国表现出来却只有作为既得利益国家的保守。美国一意孤行阻挠国际货币基金组织落实份额与投票权改革方案便可见一斑。这也是这些年中美关系磕磕绊绊的根本原因之一。
  总之,作为一个世界强国,如果对其他国家少一点顾虑与防范,多一点信任与合作,美 国展现在世人面前的将是超级大国的大气,减少的将是不必要的遗憾,而得到的将是更多的实惠。中美关系是当今世界最重要的双边关系之一,其影响已超出两国关 系的范畴。两国关系健康稳定向前发展,有利于增进两国乃至世界人民的福祉。而实现这一目标,重要的是顺应历史与时代潮流,正视现实,通过沟通对话、增信释 疑和深化合作确保两国关系始终行进在构建新型大国关系的正确轨道上。
(中国社会科学院世界经济与政治研究所 徐秀军)
This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

Hot this week

Thailand: Appeasing China Won’t Help Counter Trump

Canada: Carney Takes Us Backward with Americans on Trade

Ireland: We Must Stand Up to Trump on Climate. The Alternative Is Too Bleak To Contemplate

Ireland: Irish Examiner View: Would We Miss Donald Trump and Would a Successor Be Worse?

Turkey: Pay Up or Step Aside: Tariffs in America’s ‘Protection Money’ Diplomacy

Topics

Austria: The EU Must Recognize That a Tariff Deal with Trump Is Hardly Worth Anything

Mexico: The Network of Intellectuals and Artists in Defense of Venezuela and President Nicholás Maduro

Hong Kong: Cordial Cross-Strait Relations Will Spare Taiwan Trump’s Demands, Says Paul Kuoboug Chang

Germany: The Tariffs Have Side Effects — For the US Too*

Ireland: We Must Stand Up to Trump on Climate. The Alternative Is Too Bleak To Contemplate

Canada: Carney Takes Us Backward with Americans on Trade

Thailand: Appeasing China Won’t Help Counter Trump

Related Articles

Thailand: Appeasing China Won’t Help Counter Trump

Canada: Putin Is Negotiating Victory, Not Peace

Trinidad and Tobago: US, Venezuela and the Caribbean: Diplomacy First

India: Will New US Envoy Help to Repair Ties under Threat?

France: Global South: Trump Is Playing into China’s Hands