Tensions Rise during US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue

Published in Huanqiu
(China) on 8 June 2016
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by William Torres. Edited by Melanie Rehfuss.
After the close of yesterday’s economic talks, China and the United States have agreed to more than 160 terms. Meanwhile, media outlets are reporting that there were just as many disagreements. Last night, Secretary of State John Kerry spoke to the press about how the talks have been very successful thus far, and about how Chinese foreign policy discussions were thorough and comprehensive. Kerry feels very pleased with the rich results of the Strategic and Economic Dialogue. John Kerry’s positive response comes as a surprise to many Western scholars.

Generally, China is more willing to stress the positive results of these meetings while the American media tends to shine light on the negative aspects of everything.

Both sides had differing opinions when it came to discussions on the South China Sea and were not able to settle on an agreement at this time. During last night’s press conference, John Kerry also expressed that “China has said that if maritime and aviation freedoms can be respected, then President Obama’s policies may be able to synchronize with their own.”*

China’s steel production has been the main focus of the economic discussions that took place at the S&ED, which is mainly because of speculation brought up by the United States. The American delegation expressed that China’s steel production is excessive, and that it places a burden on the global economy. This is an idea that is propagated by the Western media. Chinese Minister of Finance Lou Jiwei criticized that this American point of view is merely an exaggeration. He pointed out that when China boosted the global economy during one of the worst financial crises, the world applauded China. “How can you now say that overproduction in China is a drag on the world?” said Minister Jiwei.

People’s general impression is that China wants to improve Chinese-American relations and stresses the importance of cooperation between both sides. The standard American attitude is not very reliable. This shows that China wants to maintain a good relationship with the United States, seemingly because they care more. The reason for this is that China has always been weaker than America. The Chinese understand the impact that their relationship with the United States can have on local and foreign affairs. To a large degree, this reflects how the Chinese people feel about the situation.

The United States needs to get a good handle on the sudden emergence of China in the evolving Asia-Pacific structure, and on the delicately peaceful relationship developing between the United States and China. They must decide what challenges China poses to America. It is only natural that some would have worries about a country rising to power so suddenly. But this can often lead to many misconceptions.

The U.S.-China S&ED provided the two countries with an opportunity to clarify their relationship. In the end, how stable is their relationship after so many years of hostility? This hostility will continue to grow, eventually reaching a breaking point, and ending ties will become more and more likely. The South China Sea issue has grown to become a prominent issue in Chinese-American relations. What kind of sensibility will keep the South China Sea issue from reaching a breaking point? Will the problem continue to grow sharper, until it breaks the stability of bilateral relations? The situation seems to be creating a huge feeling of suspense.

Both countries are full of pride and want each other’s respective governments to be strong and to throw down the gauntlet. Nevertheless, the citizens of both countries do not want this to escalate into a military conflict. So both nations must approach the issue with level-headed understanding. If they can both finally obtain stability in the Western Pacific and create a strong and peaceful control in the Asia-Pacific region, they will receive such historic praise that not even the Nobel Peace Prize can describe.

Beijing and Washington must both do what is in their own best interest so as not to be mocked. This is the kind of mockery that inevitably becomes political pressure. How can either country make a stand for their national interests while creating peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region? Presently and in the near future this problem will pose a very big challenge for both countries.

It has always seemed that until now China and America have been playing games to preserve civilization. China has undoubtedly been very moderate and cautious in order to grow into such a powerful country. The United States has been a conservative player thus far and has not been too ruthless toward China. It is unknown to what extent both sides have reached a mutual understanding during the S&ED.

It is impossible to simply evaluate Chinese-American relations as good or bad — although they are undoubtedly important. It is not possible, within such a small amount of time, for good diplomatic relations to remove all the mutual doubt. Also, poor diplomatic relations absolutely have an effect on peaceful dialogues between both countries. At this point, you can only watch helplessly as it free falls.

The U.S. military recently released Washington’s strategy regarding China’s borders, which revealed a rather dark side of America. This side of America was seemingly revealed during the S&ED, but we will see if America can control itself enough in the South China Sea to not provoke China. Nevertheless, it is clear that nothing is certain.

*Editor’s note: This quote, though accurately translated, could not be verified.


略对话把中美紧张往回拉了拉

2016-06-08 00:57:00环球时报 环球时报 分享 1647参与
  
  中美战略与经济对话在达成160多项成果后于昨天结束,同时这次对话可以被媒体用来炒作的分歧也足够多。但是克里国务卿昨晚向记者表示,双方的这次对话“非常有成果”,对中国境外NGO管理法的讨论“深入且全面”,他感到“非常高兴”,这是他所参加的战略与经济对话“最富有成效的一次”,这几个“非常”和“最”让不少西方人士感到了惊讶。
  通常都是中国更愿意强调对话取得的成果,美方向媒体透露出来的分歧往往比中方透露的要多。
  双方在南海上的分歧不太可能通过一次战略对话解决,但是克里昨天晚上也在记者会上表示,“中国也说会尊重航行自由和飞行自由,奥巴马总统的政策实际上与中国的政策能够很好地对接”。

  经济对话被媒体聚焦最多的是关于中国去钢铁等产能的话题,这主要是美方之前炒作的结果。美方代表团提出中国钢铁等产能过剩“拖累了”世界经济,这一说法得到西方媒体的广泛传播。中国财长楼继伟批评美方言过其实,他指出当初中国在金融危机最严重的时期提振世界需求,全球都为中国叫好,“现在说中国产能过剩对全球造成拖累,当时怎么说的?”
  人们的通常印象是:中方更愿意谈中美新型大国关系,强调两国的合作面,美方的态度则不怎么稳定,这显示了中国对维持良好的中美关系似乎更在意些。原因是中国的总实力弱于美国,中国很重视中美关系对自己整体外交形势乃至国内形势的影响,这在很大程度上也是中国社会的普遍态度。
  对美国来说,需要处理好中国崛起对亚太产生的格局性影响与中国和平崛起愿望之间的微妙关系,它需区分什么是中国对美发出的真正挑战,什么是守成大国因为面对崛起大国有一些固有焦虑而产生的错觉。
  中美战略与经济对话似乎为两国厘清关系提供了机会,比如,两国关系多年来“斗而不破”的特殊规律到底有多稳定。“斗”的点显然在增多并变得尖锐,“不破”的现实利益也越来越大。就南海问题来说,如今它已成为中美关系的突出悬念,那么究竟中美关系“斗而不破”的逻辑将驯服南海问题,还是南海问题的尖锐性最终会突破两国关系的稳定性,这似乎成了悬念之中的悬念。
  中美社会都充满骄傲,希望各自的政府强硬应对挑战。但是两国民众总的来说又都不希望彼此走向军事冲突,两国政府需对此有清醒了解。如果中美在西太平洋的安全竞争最终得到平稳、强有力的管控,和平成为整个亚太牢不可破的局面,那么中美两国政府必将受到历史的褒奖。这种褒奖恐怕不是诺贝尔和平奖可以表达的。
  北京和华盛顿都需维护中美的各自利益,在重大问题上后退会受到嘲笑,这种嘲笑必将转化成政治压力。如何在为国家利益作出坚守的同时,又能让亚太和平与稳定成为不可逆转的趋势,在当下和未来很长时期内,这对中美两国政府都是艰难挑战。
  总的看来,中美直到今天的博弈保持了整体的文明。中国无疑是非常温和、谨慎的崛起大国,美国作为守成大国迄今为止也没有给中国来“最狠的”,不知战略与经济对话上双方在多大程度上达到了这种认知上的默契。
  中美关系无法用“好”或“坏”来简单评价,重要的是,它短时间内不可能“好”到消除所有战略互疑的程度,又决不应“坏”到两国的所有对话和管控机制在它面前毫无作用,只能眼看着它自由落体般下坠。
  美国军方近来释放了华盛顿战略界对华思维比较阴暗的一面,通过战略与经济对话,美方似乎往回拉了拉。然而美方是否会克制自己在南海上对中国的挑衅,仍将是不确定的。
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1 COMMENT

  1. The U.S. has assisted China in its peaceful rise and applauds the hundreds of millions of people there who have worked their way up from poverty. We respect and need China’s voice to be heard in world affairs. That said, we are never going to stop advocating for freedom and democracy, and we are going to continue to keep the peace in the Pacific in the face of China’s claims that infringe on the sea boundaries of other littoral nations. Peace brothers and sisters 🙂