Xi
Jinping goes to the US
S P
SETH
Has the recent US visit of the Chinese President Xi Jinping cleared
the air between the two countries? It is generally known that their relations
are difficult, and might even be entering a hostile phase. China’s rise is
tending to upset the US-led post-WW11 international order with Beijing refusing
to fit into it. It refuses to accept the US narrative that China’s rise and
prosperity in the existing international order is proof, if any needed, that it
has gained from the present order, which continues to serve it well. And any
attempt by Beijing to undermine or replace it is bound to disrupt and
destabilize what is and has worked so well. For China though it is a
self-serving US narrative to maintain its primacy and dominance underpinned by
established international rules and institutions.
China obviously is not keen on playing a subordinate role. Apart
from the fact that it is now the world’s second largest economy and is likely
to overtake the US soon, its historical memory propels it to be a power centre
in its own right. This historical memory is played out at two levels. At the
first level, it is the humiliation heaped on China during the 19th
century when it was forced to open its markets to opium trade in the name of
free trade. The country was bankrupted and virtually parceled out in the name
of free trade. And later, in the thirties and forties, Japan simply went in and
declared war on China. Until very recently, China had followed the advise of its
late leader Deng Xiaoping to “hide your strength and bide your time.” China
apparently feels that the time has come to flex some of its new muscle to
assert and project its power. Therefore, at one level, China seems determined
to wash off its humiliation by asserting its new power.
At another level, having been a great power historically bearing the
name Middle Kingdom, its more confident leaders want to restore that glory. And
there is a sense that the US-led international system is seeking to constrain
and contain China. This is reflected strongly in China’s assertion of its claimed
sovereignty (contested by some regional countries) in the South China Sea where
it has been building military facilities in old and newly dredged
islands/islets, which it regards as its own territory and waters. And this is
meeting resistance from the US and its friends and allies, fearing that China
is virtually turning all of South China Sea into its internal lake to impede/deny
freedom of navigation and trade through international waters. And the US is
prepared to challenge China’s control and assert such freedom of navigation,
raising specter of naval confrontation. During a recent speech in the UN
General Assembly, President Obama maintained that, “We have an interest in
upholding the basic principles of freedom of navigation [in South China Sea] and
the free flow of commerce, and in resolving disputes through international law,
not the law of force.” But peaceful resolution might not be easy.
During Xi’s US visit, there doesn’t seem to have been any progress
in this regard. Both sides reiterated their respective position, with the US
advocating a peaceful diplomatic solution, and China asserting its sovereignty.
In other words, the question of sovereignty in the South China Sea, and between
Japan and China in the East China Sea, remain serious issues affecting peace
and stability in the region.
Lately, the question of cyber security has also come to cloud
US-China relations. According to US reports, Chinese hackers have stolen security
data of over 20 million federal employees and contractors, thus posing great
security and commercial risks for the US. Indeed, even a unit of the Chinese
army was also said to be involved, and the US has charged some of them with
illegal activities. Beijing, of course, denies it and claims that it too has
been a victim. Not surprisingly, the issue of cyber security featured in
preparatory talks before President Xi’s visit and the issue was also discussed
during his US visit. There was talk of establishing a “hotline” for cyber
attacks between the two countries. And according to reports, Beijing agreed
that, “Neither country’s government will conduct or knowingly support
cyber-enabled theft of intellectual property including trade secrets or other confidential
business information, with the intent of providing competitive advantages to
companies or commercial sectors.” The problem with all such understandings,
whether in regard to state secrets and/or commercial information, is how to
prove and enforce cyber-related crime. And it is further compounded if the
relationship is marred by mutual distrust. In other words, no amount of
understanding on the issue of cyber crimes is likely to bridge the gap. But it
is still worth maintaining functional relationship between the world’s two most
powerful countries.
Another issue that has marred relations between the US and China is
the question of human rights. Its generally accepted meaning is the freedom of
expression and free assembly for citizens without fear of being locked up for
exercising that freedom. It also means the citizens’ right to periodically
elect their own government, which might involve rejecting the incumbent regime.
By these standards, the monopoly power of the Communist Party of China (CPC),
with citizens denied the right to choose their own government, is a denial of
basic human rights. Those demanding to exercise that right often end up behind
bars.
According to reports, such arbitrary arrests have become a feature
of the Xi Jinping’s regime, which is not apologetic about the monopoly power of
the CPC. The argument on Chinese side is that every country has its own history
and the system that shapes it. Indeed, the US is regarded as self-serving in advocating
its system, which too is said to have serious human rights problems and
violations. And its advocacy of democracy and human rights is considered subversive
as far as China is concerned. Which led the CPC to issue an internal memo not
long ago that reportedly warned against seven “false ideological trends,
positions and activities” including “Western constitutional democracy”,
“universal values”, “the West’s idea of journalism”, and civil society. And
there is no prize for guessing that China and the US strongly disagree on the
idea and practice of democracy.
With such divergent views and interests on a whole gamut of issues,
President Xi Jinping’s US visit was not expected to bring about any significant
meeting of minds. But both countries seem interested in keeping up the dialogue
and not let things get out of control. And as long as that is maintained, it is
not too bad.
Note: This article was first published in the Daily Times.
Contact: sushilpseth@yahoo.com.au
