The Old and the New of Pence’s Speech

Published in Huanqiu
(China) on 25 October 2019
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Tyler Ruzicka. Edited by Elizabeth Cosgriff.
Vice President Mike Pence gave a new policy speech on China Thursday. At first glance, he seemed to be singing the same old tune, with a characterization and judgment of China that was similar to that of last year's speech. However, he expressed a rather positive stance on the improvement of China-U.S. relations, emphasizing that the U.S. doesn't want to cut ties with China and that he hopes for a bright future between the two nations.

The speech rehashed much content from last year, accusing China once more of stealing American intellectual property, militarizing the South China Sea, oppressing religious groups, putting pressure on U.S. companies and the film and television industry, damaging American freedom of speech and more. On top of that, he also encroached on Chinese internal affairs, slandering China with respect to the Taiwan, Hong Kong and Tibet controversies.

One central theme of the speech was an endorsement of current U.S. policies and an emphasis on the wisdom of these tough policies toward China. That was also the focus of last year's speech. Last year, as the U.S. approached the midterm elections, Pence's Oct. 4 policy speech on China was clearly intended to earn votes for the Republican Party. This year's speech is naturally intended to serve the party in the 2020 presidential election.

The big change from last year’s speech came in the last part of Pence's remarks on Thursday, when he expressed a positive attitude toward reaching a trade agreement and improving relations with China. He said that the U.S. does not want to cut ties with China, and emphasized the personal friendship between the two countries' leaders. He also expressed hope that the China-U.S. relationship would improve the well-being of the two nations' citizens, and lead to a happier future.

Pence stated that the U.S. wouldn't allow challenges to obstruct the further development of China-U.S. relations, and he emphasized that President Donald Trump supports the establishment of a trade agreement between the U.S. and China and will maintain economic and cultural exchanges. He also said that the two countries would continue to cooperate on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and on issues in the Middle East, and he believes this kind of proper relationship is crucial for both countries.

These new points differentiate Pence's Thursday speech from last year's. I’m afraid this is the impression that most people have. Li Haidong, a scholar on U.S.-China issues, gave an interpretation of the speech shortly after, saying that although Pence's speech last year was suspected by many to be the declaration of a new cold war, his new speech was somewhat more moderate, as if expressing the desire to reconnect with China.

However, it should be recognized that Pence's personal attitude toward China is marked by deep-rooted Cold War-era thinking, and this speech showed his severe prejudice toward China. He denies the rationality of China's establishment of a political system according to its own conditions, and although he states that he doesn't want the U.S. to cut ties with China, he simultaneously accuses China of isolating itself from the world. He used very heated language to attack China on issues like human rights, economic policy and national security, confusing people about whether his statements seeking to improve relations with China were genuine or not.

The Americans' position toward China has always been diverse and dynamic; they use it to serve both their short-term and long-term strategies. Therefore, we still need to wait and see what path Washington will choose with China.

We believe that the strained China-U.S. relationship and the continual escalation of the trade war has hurt both countries. The U.S. can't use tough policies to overpower China, a fact well-proven in the past y 1 1/2 years. The U.S. political elite needs to face up to the limitations of its ability to stifle China, and instead promote true easing of U.S.-China relations. Pence says that he hopes China's desire to improve China-U.S. relations is more than empty words; we believe that statement should be directed instead at Washington.

China's political system is different from that of the U.S., and trying to transform China politically is a dead end. But China and the U.S. have the right conditions for peaceful coexistence and profitable cooperation, so it is a real possibility. In the 21st century, different civilizations should be able to associate harmoniously, and our world should be rich and diverse; this is a universal principle, and time is on its side.

We hope that the U.S. doesn't refuse to join China and the other countries of the world in this truly meaningful and great endeavor, and devotes its strength and wisdom to the creation of a peaceful 21st century.


社评:彭斯讲话的陈词老调和些许变化

彭斯副总统美国时间星期四发表了新的中国政策讲话。我们最初的印象是:他对中国的描述和定性老调重弹,与去年的讲话很像。但他对改善美中关系表达了相对积极的态度,强调美国不是要与中国脱钩,希望两国关系有一个美好未来。

这份讲话对中国的攻击重复了去年讲话的很多内容,比如再次给中国扣上盗窃美国知识产权,军事化南海,宗教压迫,向美国企业和影视产业施压,破坏美国的言论自由的帽子等。另外又在台湾、香港、新疆问题上污蔑抹黑中国,干涉中国内政。

讲话的一个中心主线是为美国的现行政策唱赞歌,强调对中国的强硬政策如何英明伟大。这也是去年讲话的重心。去年美国面临中期选举,彭斯10月4日发表对华政策讲话有为共和党拉票的明显意图,此次他的讲话自然也要为明年的总统大选服务。

星期四彭斯讲话的新意在于,该讲话的后面部分对与中国达成贸易协议和改善关系释放了积极态度。他说美国不想与中国脱钩,强调了美中两国领导人的个人友谊,并且表示希望美中关系给两国人民都带来更多福祉,达成一个比较美好的关系和未来。

彭斯表示,美国不会让各种挑战阻挡美中关系发展,他强调特朗普总统对美中达成贸易协定持积极态度,将继续和中国进行经济和文化上的往来。他还说,两国会继续在朝鲜半岛无核化和中东问题上合作,并且认为这种正确的关系对两国至关重要。

这些新的表态使得彭斯星期四的讲话与去年讲话形成了差异。这恐怕是大多数人的共同印象。中国美国问题学者李海东在第一时间解读说,去年的彭斯讲话被不少人怀疑是“新冷战”的宣言,但他的新讲话则要温和些,似有表达要与中国“再接触”的意思。

不过要看到,彭斯的个人对华态度有着冷战思维的很深烙印,这次讲话也充分反映了他对中国的严重偏见。他否定中国根据本国国情建立政治体制的合理性,虽然表示美国不想与中国“脱钩”,但同时诬称中国在与世界隔离。他对中国人权、经济政策、国防等方面的攻击都使用了很激烈的语言,从而使人们对他表达愿与中国改善关系是否具有诚意感到困惑。

美方的对华表态以往表现出多样性和多变性,不仅服务于他们的长期对华战略,甚至还搞短线操作。因此华盛顿究竟会在对华问题上怎么走,尚需继续观察。

我们认为,中美关系紧张、贸易战不断升级对两国的利益都造成了损害,中国不是美国用强硬政策能够压倒的,这一现实已在过去一年半中得到充分证明。美国的政治精英们需要正视对华搞压制能力的局限性,做出推动中美关系朝着真正缓和的方向改善。彭斯说希望中国对改善中美关系不光落实在口头上,我们认为这话更应该说给华盛顿自己。

是的,中国的政治体制与美国的不同,在政治上改造中国,注定此路不通。但是中美有着和平共处、合作共赢的充分条件,以及广泛的现实可能性。不同的文明应当能够在21世纪和谐相处,我们的世界应当丰富多元,这个道理是最为普世的,它也是时间的真正朋友。

我们希望美国不要拒绝与中国和世界各国一起进行一次真正有意义的伟大尝试,为缔造和平的21世纪贡献美国的力量和智慧。
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