July 2008: How should the United States relate to China?
China has the fastest growing economy in the world. Its producer and consumer demands are driving prices of fuel upward, and its trade role in the world is significant and growing. It is a world leader as a polluter; it has almost no quality checks on produce leaving the country; its treatment of its people both as citizens and workers is disgraceful. Its foreign policy seems to us amoral. Provide machetes to murderers in Rwanda? Sure! Support the genocide in the Sudan because of oil agreements? No problem! So, how do we deal with these guys? Would the United States be hypocritical to take action against China — can we really claim the moral high ground? And what happens to the world economy if we take action? Would the rest of the world stand with us or against us?
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Conservative Response
The issue of how to deal with China is a difficult one for conservatives.
At a time when the Communist Bloc stood in stark contrast to the free world, conservatives had a core issue upon which to base their foreign policy. Containing, then defeating communism was THE issue. Not only was there a very real threat to our nation, but the threat was an ideological one as well. Dictatorship and centralized economy: this was the ideological enemy.
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But what to do with China? Still a very real dictatorship, it has nevertheless opened its markets and its economy. Deng Xiaoping once said, after all, "To become rich is glorious." China's emerging economy holds immense promise as a producer, a supplier, and a marketplace for America's businesses. It is our belief that economic liberalization will lead to demands for democracy. China currently persecutes people for religious and political beliefs, but this is a nation which has never had freedom and democracy. It will not show up right away. The recent earthquake, as tragic as it was, showed a different Chinese government — one that used Western-style PR to show that it was serving the people. That is a good sign.
Still, there is one big problem: China's increased military build-up. Determined to make itself a power, China is buying a more powerful military; it is spying and stealing secrets; and it is doing more and more chest-thumping. On China's borders are traditional rivals, Vietnam and Russia, Also on its border is the economic rival, India. With all three nations, China has existing border disputes.
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To what extent is China intent on making Asia its playground? How dangerous and destabilizing will this be? This is what conservatives are worried about.
— Editor
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Liberal Response
What our relationship with China should be is a tough question for liberals.
On the one hand, China's human rights record is cause for concern throughout the world. Its new belligerence is justification for increased vigilance. That it has used US companies to help spy on Chinese dissidents is shameful (for China AND the US companies). The hopeful side is that China seems desperate to join the community of nations and is willing to consider altering its policies in support of the Sudan for instance, or against piracy.
For liberals the most pressing issue is economic. In an international economic system where labor costs are THE determining factor in the competitive arena, China is not playing fair. The use of prisoners (virtual slaves) and children and the outlawing of unions keep prices artificially low. And the Chinese outdo Wal-mart when it comes to bullying suppliers to keep prices down (presumably Wal-mart doesn't have a police state to keep industries in line). The effect of this behavior is to keep pay unfairly low world-wide, and to make it ridiculously difficult for American companies (with better pay AND benefits) to compete.
What do we do? We automatically keep relations with China sound by renewing their Most Favored Nation (MFN) status. But shouldn't we somehow protect our workers (and in doing so help other nations' workers)? There is an answer: to vigorously use the World Trade Organization to enforce fair trade practices. Use the international forum to make nations accountable. Not only China, but Malaysia, Indonesia, Russia, and Brazil. For the UN and the WTO to be meaningful, they must establish minimum standards for workers, and enforce them.
— Editor
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Alternative Response
Cut 'em off!
The liberals and conservatives want to work with a dictatorial, corrupt, communist regime. That never works.
The Chinese shamelessly spy on us. They are increasing their military beyond any possible threats. They are becoming the world's worst polluters. They jail Christians. They censor everything, including the Internet.
The inbred Politburo is not going to change because we would like them to. They will change because they are hurting. We are their biggest trading partner; so let's cut them off UNLESS they:
- Limit their arms build-up
- Democratize
- Allow unions
- Establish minimum workers' rights
- Ease censorship
- Allow religious freedom
The economic harm will force the Chinese to re-consider. It will harm us, but much less. Just like in the First Cold War, sacrifices need to be made.
— Editor
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Gary Johnson
8/3/08 |
China is an economic power on its way to becoming an economic powerhouse. China is a military power on its way to becoming a superpower. China is also a corrupt, abusive and paranoid regime willing to exploit its environment and its people, crush its distracters, threaten its neighbors, and trade with any brutal or corrupt regime to become wealthier and more powerful. Confronting China on its human rights violations, its environmental disasters, its disregard for intellectual property, its willingness to buy and sell arms with anyone and its serious lack of empathy for humanity could have serious impacts on future negotiations and trade deals with China. I can understand how this issue confounds both liberals and conservatives.
So, what is the United States to do?
China is currently in the spotlight with the 2008 Olympics. Soon Olympic results from Beijing will be leading the nightly news. The United States is presented with the unique opportunity — uphold China's role and accomplishments in the Olympics while highlighting China's internal problems. The Chinese government continues the suppression of individual rights and freedoms. Dissidents in China are jailed without provocation and access to information is severely restricted and censored — both with the help of US business including Google and Yahoo.
China's lack of environmental controls has already created major headlines around the world. Closing local industries and banning automobiles from the Chinese capital cannot eliminate Beijing's air pollution problem. And, the US may not be the only country that will import the food for all their athletes.
Beyond the Olympics, the US media needs to continue to report on other issues including China's complicity in the atrocities of Darfur and its crackdown on the people of Tibet. US corporations need to tighten and to adhere to strict business policies and procedures for China. Business should not be bending or breaking their own rules to coddle the Chinese government. Finally, the US government needs to make human rights, individual freedoms, intellectual property rights and environmental controls part of any trade and business negotiations. It's time for our government to live up to its ideals.
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