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 19^th 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