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For the long-term strategy in the areas of international politics and global trade, U.S. needs to see China as a friend and not as a rival.
There have been a lot of discussions regarding President Hu’s visit in the United States. With many politicians in Congress rightfully criticizing China for its unfair currency manipulation as well as the issue of the problematic human right records in China, it is not surprising that there would be controversy over the Chinese President’s visit.
Besides, with China holding much of U.S. debt and the great number of China made products flooding the U.S. market, many Americans would feel threatened by China. The possibility of having China supersede the U.S. not only in terms of economic power but also military power brings a dark cloud to our consciousness.
But the Chinese President’s visit should be seen as an opportunity to not only brings the two countries together but also to secure the America’s dominance in the world stage. If we see China as a partner instead of a rival, then America can benefit a lot from the potential friendship while also continuously being competitive in the world stage.
A lot of the fear against China seems to be more of a misunderstanding. China and the U.S. had, for the most part, a warm relationship throughout history. The institutional difference in terms of political structure might prevent significant gains in terms of cooperation between the two countries (besides, China is a “Communist” government), but this division can be eroded through cultural and educational exchange between the two countries.
In fact, there are a sizable Chinese foreign students studying at the best universities in America, and the interaction of American and Chinese students in the educational environment facilitates a cross cultural understanding that is necessary for the two countries to join in closer friendship in the long-term.
Granted, the two countries have aspects that the other does not approve of, and I believe these issues should be debated instead of being ignored. But the fact doesn’t change that the two countries are a sizable superpower, and the protection of each countries’ interest is dependent on friendship and not on rivalry.
Besides, there are a lot of potential gains for America to engage China on friendly terms. The general Chinese market for U.S. corporations is substantial, and certain raw material from China is necessary for the U.S. to grow in certain high tech industries. In exchange, the U.S. can provide innovations, ideas, and other talents that we are good at.
The time for the two countries to become friendlier is better than ever before. China seems to be quite willing to be closer with the U.S. diplomatically, and there isn’t a significant player in the world stage (e.g. European Union) that is also competing for the same close relationship with China. Getting closer with China will not be easy with most Americans, but we should look at this time as the opportunity for another cross-cultural interaction.
