Facing China, What Does America Worry About?

In recent times, as America’s “returning to the Asia-Pacific region” strategy is being further implemented, the “military dialogue” between China and the U.S. has been greatly enhanced, including both “hard power” and “soft power.”

By “hard power,” we mean that the U.S. took Japan to its side and frequently dispatched military force in the Asia Pacific Ocean with the excuse of the Diaoyu Islands. They deployed new-style weapons, staged U.S.-Japan joint military exercises “capturing islands,” planned to set up an anti-missile and remote radar detection system, and so on. While China responded with a series of military exercises, it also fired the new-style long range multiple nuclear-warhead intercontinental missiles from land and sea in a high-profile launch.

“Soft power” included the Chinese senior military delegation visiting the U.S. Both sides strengthened strategic dialogue; the U.S expressed that they would not try to contain China. Meanwhile, the U.S. secretary of defense will visit China in September.

It seems that the Sino-U.S. “neither enemy nor friend” situation will continue. It is much like the relationships of opponents in sports championships. One party will not allow his opponent to smoothly attack and score; they will try all means to create certain barriers, organize effective defense and seize the opportunity to counterattack.

America’s ultimate goal might not be to contain China, but to return to the Asia-Pacific religion from its military deployment to have the strategic initiative and resume its hegemony in this key region. Containing China is, perhaps, a small piece of its overall strategy. Other objectives that America needs to accomplish will include Russia, North Korea, Vietnam and even India.

In any case, America is still quite upset about China’s development. If we compare factual parameters, the overall advantage of America over China is still obvious in fields like politics, society, economy, military, culture, education and technology, to name just a few. Then what does upset America? I think America’s main concern is the momentum of China’s development, which makes America feel its leading position is threatened.

Judging from the rule of cultural development, if a culture is in a rising or rejuvenating stage, then it has great potential, determination and will to overcome all kinds of difficulties and challenges, and will try any means to push forward its development. In the past 150 years, China experienced huge struggles and failures; now it is starting on an uphill road.

Looking back at America, we shall not say that its culture has already entered into recession, but it is slowing substantially. The weakening outlook is really a hidden problem. A new generation of politicians, represented by President Obama, shows insufficient preparation when faced with a turning point in cultural development. Like opportunists, they try to resume and sustain the status quo, busy with mending or looking backward. It is difficult for them to make a wise and reasonable choice for America’s future in the face of the historical trend.

If Americans can follow the trend, a pattern where China and the U.S. join together to manage the Asia-Pacific area might appear. But many Americans are not content with that. They believe China is not qualified to do that and America is not yet in a position to make a concession.

It might take some time for China to be fully qualified. Many Chinese people understand that there are many internal problems waiting to be addressed. Although China has already transferred from the strategy of “managing the country by organizing movements or battles” to a strategy of “managing the country harmoniously by caring the livelihood of the people,” the specific measures that support the new management concepts are still backward and clumsy. Some pessimists even think there is no way out. But most Chinese are still optimistic and hopeful. Because objectives and the future are still clear and rosy, the key is to look for, explore and optimize the route to success.

Where there is a will, there is a way. That is the general disposition of cultural revival. Mr. Deng Xiaoping himself is an optimist. For example, in the dispute over Diaoyu Islands between Japan and China, he believed in the future there would emerge a more wise and peaceful solution.

In the critical moment of historic revolution, the concerned parties not only need to strengthen their competitiveness, but also need to pursue wisdom, so as to lead the forefront of the times.