America Might Have a More Impartial View on China

Zbigniew Brzezinski warned that the worst outcome for Asia’s long-term stability, as well as for the American-Chinese relationship, would be a drift into escalating reciprocal demonization. What’s more, the temptations to follow such a course are likely to grow as both countries face difficulties at home.

The article “How to Stay Friends With China” is the most important article on China from the first week of 2011.

Zbigniew Brzezinski, the author of the article, is highly respected and as famous as the well-known Henry Kissinger. He has served as United States National Security Adviser to former President Jimmy Carter; his book “The Grand Chessboard” on international affairs is a must-read.

The article was published on Jan. 2 by The New York Times. The backdrop of the article is President Hu Jintao’s upcoming visit in the U.S. and the following conferences between the high officials of the two countries. It is needless to state the importance of President Hu Jintao’s visit to America, for it will set the tone of the China-America relationship in 2011.

Zbigniew Brzezinski warned that “the worst outcome for Asia’s long-term stability, as well as for the American-Chinese relationship, would be a drift into escalating reciprocal demonization. What’s more, the temptations to follow such a course are likely to grow as both countries face difficulties at home.”

He therefore suggested that “should make a serious effort to codify in a joint declaration the historic potential of productive American-Chinese cooperation. They should outline the principles that should guide it. They should declare their commitment to the concept that the American-Chinese partnership should have a wider mission than national self-interest. That partnership should be guided by the moral imperatives of the 21st century’s unprecedented global interdependence.”

In another article, “And China Isn’t Beating the U.S.,” from the January/February issue of Foreign Policy, Professor Daniel Drenzer of Tufts University expressed some very unbiased opinions on China.

He pointed out that, “[In America] politicians, commentators and the public believe China has already supplanted the United States to achieve primacy in world politics. This is not only wrong — it is dangerously wrong… the United States is vastly more powerful than the People’s Republic of China. Anyone telling you otherwise is selling you something… Exaggerating Chinese power has consequences.” He also thought, “hysteria about Chinese power also provokes confusion and anger in China as Beijing is being asked to accept a burden it is not yet prepared to shoulder. China, after all, ranks 89th in the 2010 U.N. Human Development Index (the United States is fourth)… Treating Beijing as more powerful than it is feeds Chinese bravado and insecurity at the same time.”

On Dec. 30, there was also an article published on Time.com titled “Fear of China’s Missiles (and Money) Was Overblown.” The article suggested that, first, China was more concerned about the stability within its borders than its influence on the world. Second, China’s foreign policy had remained mainly an economic policy, and its stability was fed by economic growth. Third, China’s policies had so far benefited other countries as much (or more) than China itself.

Even though China became the leading country in Asia, there was no need for the U.S. to panic, as China’s economy strength was based on low-value products, and America is still leading on high-end trades. It also suggested that “China’s Asian neighbors have a love-hate relationship with their big brother. They are happy to prosper economically from the Middle Kingdom’s rise, but they still look to the U.S. to prove a check on Chinese power.”

Also, Americans have their own forecast on China’s economy in 2011. On Jan. 5, an article on Forbes.com pointed out the “Three Big Risks to China’s Economy In 2011.” First, inflation is a serious problem. Even though official inflation was 5.1 percent in November 2010, it brings more pressure to the general public every day than the number indicated. Second, there were not enough low-cost, clean and comfortable houses available to the ordinary citizens. In the last 10 years, developers had put all they could afford into luxury construction in order to meet rich people’s needs. Third, trade tensions between China and the U.S. might heat up, and it would affect the job market in a negative way. The U.S. suffers from terrible unemployment, but instead of engaging in self-reflection it makes China a scapegoat.

After reading these articles that were written by Americans, I have to say that — sometimes — Americans understand China in a more unbiased way.