Analysis: Sino-US ties defined by understanding ( 2003-10-25 09:38) (China Daily)
The relationship between China and the United States has gradually matured as
their areas of common ground have expanded, according to an article in the
Beijing Morning Post.
The frequent high-level contacts between the two countries have substantially
enhanced mutual trust and pushed forward bilateral relations.
On the eve of the 11th Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit early
this week in Bangkok, Thailand, President Hu Jintao met US President George W.
Bush. The two had an in-depth exchange of views on a series of issues of shared
concern.
Consultations are now under way about US Vice-President Dick Cheney's visit
to China and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to the United States.
They are just a few examples of the recent high-profile contacts between the
two sides.
In the first six months of his presidency, Hu Jintao held several phone
conversations with Bush. The two heads also met face to face in Evian, France,
in June during the G8 Summit.
Through these contacts, the two countries understand each other better and
now agree on many issues.
It is normal for differences to exist between China and the United States,
just as President Hu Jintao said when meeting with US Senators in China in
April.
Nevertheless, the two countries should actively seek to develop common ground
from a long-term and strategic perspective, take account of the other's
concerns, and appropriately deal with differences between them.
The two countries have consulted, co-ordinated and co-operated in the fields
of diplomacy, the military, counter-terrorism, and the nuclear issue on the
Korean Peninsula.
The development of bilateral economic relations has been particularly
noteworthy. The two countries already carry out regular trade negotiations.
The Sino-US relationship is healthier than ever, according to US Secretary of
State Colin Powell.
There are also positive changes in the US position towards China, said the
article.
Bush's tougher stance towards China during his early presidency is still
remembered by many Chinese.
The Bush administration openly denounced the policy of its predecessor, the
Clinton administration, to build a constructive strategic partnership with
China. Insisting the two countries are strategic competitors, it disseminated
the "China threat" theory and stressed the United States should take measures to
contain a rising China.
The September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001 made the Bush administration
gradually change its policy towards China in a pragmatic and positive direction.
Bush's two trips to China within a five-month period clearly demonstrate his
change of policy, said the article.
Western observers believed the White House's decision to invite then
vice-president Hu Jintao to the United States last year reflected this new
desire to build friendship and trust with the Chinese leadership.
Since Hu Jintao assumed the presidency, Bush has made a series of goodwill
gestures towards China.
When China was plagued by the outbreak of SARS (severe acute respiratory
syndrome), Bush called Hu, expressing US willingness to provide any possible
assistance to China, praising the Chinese Government's work in the fight against
the epidemic.
Bush has also made positive changes in his policy towards the Chinese
mainland and Taiwan, according to the article.
He once declared that the United States, given its obligations under the
Taiwan Relations Act, would assist Taiwan if the island was attacked.
The president also upgraded US weapons sales to the island.
However, at the G8 summit meeting in Evian, France, in June, Bush explicitly
said he would give no support to Taiwan independence.
Flourishing trade and economic ties between the United States and China have
also contributed much to the smooth development of bilateral relations, said the
article.
The trade volume between China and the United States reached US$97.18 billion
in 2002, up 20.8 per cent from the previous year. In the first five months of
this year, the volume has topped US$46.42 billion, up 35.4 per cent from the
same period last year.
The two countries are likely to maintain strong trade ties given that their
economies are strongly complementary. The United States has strong capital and
technological advantages, while China boasts enormous market and labour
resources.
These economic links contributed to Clinton's decision to offer China
most-favoured nation trading status, divorcing it from the issue of human
rights, and Bush's more recent approval of Permanent Normal Trade Relations with
China.
The two countries, however, are yet to solve some thorny issues, according to
the article.
Of those, the Taiwan question is still the biggest, it said.
It is unlikely the United States will forsake Taiwan, although its decision
to boost strategic relations with the Chinese mainland reduces the island's
influence on decision-making in Washington.
In an annual assessment report on China's military power released by the
Pentagon on July 30, the United States once again expressed its concerns about
the threat of the mainland's growing military force to the security of Taiwan.
Also, the United States has not completely given up its view of China as a
potential enemy to its global strategic interests.
China was listed as one of the targets against which the United States could
launch nuclear attacks in its Nuclear Posture Review unveiled earlier in 2002.
Neo-conservative forces who have had growing influence in the Bush
administration since the Iraq War may also cause frictions between the two
countries.
