The Relationship between China and the United States after the Second World War - Report Example

History 23 April The Relationship between China and the United s after the Second World War Introduction The relationship between the United States and China is also referred to as Sino–American relations. Despite being significant in world affairs, the relationship has many faces and is quite complex. This is because the nations are not enemies and at the same time, they cannot be referred to as allies. This however does not mean that the nations do not relate. In fact, the nations’ collaborate in numerous affairs such as educational, international, regional, environmental, cultural, social, economic, diplomatic and strategic domains (Shambaugh 3). In the world and the Asia-Pacific region, the two nations stand as the primary superpowers. The two largest economies in the world are these nations; this is in terms of navy and military budget, energy consumption, oil importation, climate change as a result of the amount of greenhouse gas emitted, patent applications and global policies and actions (Shambaugh 3). According to Shambaugh, China and the United States “are each other’s second largest trading partner, the US is the largest source of foreign direct investment in China, while China is the largest foreign creditor of the United States” (3). In terms of global imports and exports, China is the largest exporter, while the United States is the largest importer. From this, it is clear that China and the United States have the greatest impacts on international relations and are inseparably tied together. Before the Second World War, the two nations interacted in different ways. During the war, China and the United States collaborated as allies, and until 1949, which was a few years after the Second World War, “Americans saw their support for a stronger China as a beneficent gesture, and one that conveniently protected US interests from the depredations of foreign powers” (Shambaugh 29). After the war however, things have been different as the nations have faced political obstacles between them. The Civil War The World War ended with the surrender of Japan. After the war, China was involved in a bitter civil war. This war was between the communist forces and the Chinese Nationalist Party forces. The communist forces were led by Mao Zedong, while the Chinese Nationalist Party forces were led by Jiang Jieshi, who was then the president of China (Li 465). Li points out that “the United States supported Jiang Jieshi during the Chinese civil war in 1946-1949 and lent considerable assistance to the Nationalist government” (465). Despite this support, Jiang was defeated by the communists and this forced Guomindang (Chinese Nationalist Party) to move to the Taiwan Island. After Jiang’s defeat in the war, the United States decided to only preserve diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (ROC) government that had retreated to Taiwan and disregarded the communist PRC that had been established. The Cold War The Cold War took place between 1945and 1991 (Sheehan 4). At the time, the United States and the Soviet Union were the world’s superpowers. The time can be termed as a period characterized by serious territorial and ideological tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States. The war involved contradictions over the strait of Taiwan. During the time, “the influence of the newly established People’s Republic of China was increasing, and the western world was trying to use Taiwan as an unsinkable aircraft carrier to prevent the rise of China which was perceived as a threat to Western Capitalism” (Wang, China and the Taiwan Issue 4). In the 1970s and 1980s, the former Soviet Union was a great threat and this raised the concern of the United States and China. As a result, both nations joined hands in dealing with the former Soviet Union and relations between them improved. The Korean War During the Korean War, many nations were involved. The United States and Great Britain provided support as part of the United Nations. Others included the Soviet Union, the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (Edwards 6). However, the nations that bore the brunt of the war were the People’s Republic of China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Republic of Korea and the United States (Edwards 6). The Korean War was between North and South Korea. The Communist People’s Republic of China got involved in the war when it joined the side of North Korea. During the time, the Soviet Union assisted North Korea with arms. The United States under the rule of President Harry Truman entered into the war through the side of South Korea. During the war, China was not happy with the United States and in effect, it sent many warnings, but the United States ignored them. According to Perkins, “during the Korean War, the PRC also waged a domestic campaign to mobilize the Chinese people against enemies of the country, with the slogan ‘resist America, aid Korea’” (259). Due to this and other events that took place during the Korean War, the relationship between China and the United States deteriorated. It can therefore be said that the Korean War was a major factor in the unfavorable relationship between the United States and China. The Vietnam War Although the Vietnam War is usually viewed as a conflict between North Vietnam and the United States, it also involved other nations that were allies to the United States and North Vietnam. During the war, North Vietnam opposed the aggression of the United States. China took part in the war by supporting North Vietnam. Shambaugh and Wang assert that “during the entire Vietnam war, the Chinese government gave the Vietnam People’s Army a substantial amount of military weapons, equipment and other supplies” (20). During the war, the Soviet Union and China vied for influence on the side of North Vietnam, but North Vietnam chose to accept the Soviet Union’s help instead of that of China. For that reason, the turbulence that was growing between China and the Soviet Union increased. In the meantime, the United States, which had also entered into the war, began differing with China, especially when the aggression of the United States in the war continued to escalate. The United States however assured China that any differences that came about between the two nations during the war would not be used against it, but at some point, China decided to put a stop to the United States involvement in Vietnam. To do that, China sent non-combat troops to North Vietnam and denounced the United States escalation in Vietnam. Freezing of Relations after the Vietnam War The entrance of the United States into the Vietnam War was a chance that had the potential to strain its relationship with China, but both nations seemed to care less at the time. According to Li and Hong, “after the US escalation in Vietnam, concern over the possibility of a Sino-American war over Vietnam had become fairly acute in both Washington and Beijing by early 1966” (397). As a result of this, a tacit agreement was made between China and the United States that no side would use the other side’s involvement in Vietnam for the disadvantage of the other. The more the United States got involved in South Vietnam, the more concern rose over Sino-American relations. However, “the American representatives at Warsaw assured the Chinese on several occasions that the United States did not wish to pose any threat to the security of China and had no designs on the territory of North Vietnam” (Li and Hong 397). The government of China on the other hand denied the existence of any understanding between it and the United States over the issue of Vietnam. As the war continued, the purposes and interests of China and the United States in Vietnam and regarding other issues continued to deteriorate. China eventually grew tired over the United States escalation in Vietnam and responded by not just denouncing the United States escalation in Vietnam, but by also sending non-combat troops to North Vietnam for the aggression of the United States to be deterred. By the end of the war, relations between the United States and China were already sour. Normalization of Relations between China and the United States Normalization of relations between China and the United States took place between 1972 and 1979 (Li 465). According to Li, “it involved the ongoing efforts of the United States (U.S.) and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to improve diplomatic ties between their two nations” (465). Normalization attempts had begun way before 1972 when President Richard Nixon, who ruled the United States between 1913 and 1994, sought the support of China in standing against the Soviet Union (USSR). During the years that followed, there was resentment and mistrust. In 1979, China and the United States managed to establish diplomatic relations. September 11 Attacks As a result of the September 11 attacks, the relationship between China and the United States underwent major changes. Before the attacks, President George W. Bush, who was then the President of the United States had made some statements that had been interpreted to be targeting China, making it look more like a strategic rival rather than a partner (Wang, The United States and China 289). During the era of Bill Clinton, it was clear from his statements as president that he viewed China as a strategic partner and not a rival. According to Wang, “the 2001 Quadrennial Defense Review Report-largely prepared before September 11, but released on September 30-implicitly identified China as a potential military competitor in the Asia-Pacific and a future challenge to American interests in the region” (The United States and China 289). After the attacks however, President George W. Bush, whose administration can be blamed for the worsening of relations between the United States and China reassured China of mutual and respectful ties between the two nations. President Bush said that “Our ties are mature, respectful and important to both our nations and to the world” (Wang, The United States and China 289). In order to assure China of this, the United States sought the help of China in dealing with future terrorist threats. Chinese leaders took the gesture as that of diplomatic outreach and goodwill and agreed to help the United States. With that kind of a move, the mutual and respectful relationship between China and the United States was saved. George Bush’s Era When George W. Bush became the president of the United States in the year 2000, the relationship between China and the United States was on a shaky ground. Hauser and Kernic point out that “with the Iraqi war as a symbol, President Bush’s foreign policy, particularly during his first term, is widely judged as disastrous, considered the worst in history of the United States by some” (41). With time however, Bush’s policy towards the relationship between China and the United States improved and a good relationship was forged. In 2006 Condoleezza Rice, who was then the United States Secretary of State, emphasized in her statements that the United States and China had excellent relations from the time the Bush administration took authority in the United States. The statements by Condoleezza Rice can however be said to be inaccurate since during the beginning of the administration, the relationship was on a shaky ground. The fact is that “it took some dramatic reorganizing events, considerable reconceptualization, enlargement of mutual interests, and careful management from both sides that eventually put the relationship back onto a relatively stable track” (Hauser and Kernic 41). Barrack Obama’s Era Barrack Obama, who was a Democratic Senator, became the 44th president of the United States on November 4, 2008, which was the United States presidential Election Day (Guo, Sujian and Guo, Baogang, Greater China 175). He is the current president of the United States. Diplomatic relations between China and the United States were established in 1979 (Guo, Sujian and Guo, Baogang, Thirty Years 115). The two nations have engaged in growing interactions for three decades and after the election of Barrack Obama as the United States president, the relationship entered into a new era. In 2009, President Barrack Obama made his first official visit to China; in the visit, he stated that China and the United States need to build a comprehensive, cooperative and positive relationship (Guo, Sujian and Guo, Baogang, Thirty Years 115) Tan agrees that President Obama’s era has been a new era in the relationship between China and the United States; he asserts that “the advent of the Barrack Obama Administration has seen a significant improvement in the USA’s relations with the region generally and with South-East Asia in particular” (171). This is mainly because his style of leadership capitalizes on changing circumstances. When president Obama’s term began, there was a lot of speculation regarding five key areas, which are financial turmoil, protectionism, public diplomacy, the dynamic geopolitical environment and key Chinese policy players in the administration of President Obama (WPP, wpp.com). During the time that President Obama came into office, both the Chinese and United States economies were reevaluating their entry to foreign markets and at the same time, looking for ways of promoting growth in their nations. So far, the nations have been able to forge a great economic relationship, with China exporting most of its products to the United States market and the United States investing heavily in China. In terms of the United States image, a lot has improved. Diplomatic Relationship According to Duiker and Spielvogel, “on January 1, 1979, the United States and the People’s Republic of China agreed to establish diplomatic relations “(743). This was the first time that the two nations were establishing such a relationship. Since the establishment of this relationship, it can be said that the two nations have experienced high and low moments. Lanteigne points out that “while respecting each other’s importance, each is also concerned about the long-term international intentions of the other, especially as China continues to develop into a greater power” (102). Due to China’s rise, there have been divisions in academic circles and American policymaking over how the Chinese power should be addressed by the United States. There are those who argue that the relationship will be destabilized by a number of issues, while others argue that it will remain stable. In regard to the relationship remaining stable, it is argued that each side has huge economic and political dependence on the other. It is also possible for China to find a common ground in its matters with the United States, such as those to do with international security, continuing global market health and economic cooperation (Lanteigne 102). While this is the view of some, others have the opinion that China needs to avoid any threats to its development and it can only do so by being more conservative. It is a fact that any conflict between China and the United States would be extremely risky, especially given that both nations have nuclear weapons available at their disposal. China has the potential to challenge the strategic interests of the United States as well a growing military budget, which leads many to predicting a Sino-American conflict. In regard to the policies of both nations, they differ widely especially on issues surrounding other state affairs intervention, democratization and human rights. To sum it all, there is need for great caution from the United States and China in terms of how both nations handle diplomatic issues. The Commercial and Economic Relationship Since the establishment of a diplomatic relationship between the United States and China, a lot of growth has been fostered. The United States Government Accountability Office supports that “over the last few decades, various political and economic factors have contributed to the advancement of commercial relations between the United States and China” (5). After the two nations signed a bilateral trade agreement, which occurred in 1979, trade between them has expanded rapidly. The “total US-China trade increased from about $8 billion in 1985 to $20 billion in 1990 and to $57 billion in 1995, according to the census bureau” (United States Government Accountability Office 5). Immediately after the signing of the bilateral trade agreement, there was a surge in demand for foreign goods and services from China that led to modernization of industries, infrastructure and the economy. This can be attributed to the open investment policies and economic reforms that China initiated. Over the years, United States exports to China and imports from the nation have continued to grow at a fast pace. This has in turn created a huge bilateral trade deficit, which continues to grow. According to the United States Government Accountability Office, “the deficit in goods ballooned from $6 million in 1985 to $34 million in 1995 and to $162 billion in 2004, according to the Census Bureau” (5). In 2004, the trade deficit between the United States and China accounted for approximately 25 percent of the total United States trade deficit (United States Government Accountability Office 5). In recent years, there has been an imbalance in trade between the United States and China and this has earned a lot of media and political attention. This has led to a little friction in terms of trade between the two nations. “Some policy makers, industry leaders and labor groups believe that this trade imbalance is costing United States jobs in industries trying to compete with imports from China” (United States Government Accountability Office 5). After the 2008 global financial crisis, a turning point occurred in terms of assumptions regarding the long term sustainability of the United States and Chinese economic structures. In September 2008, the Lehman Brothers investment bank collapsed and during this time, the GDP percentage of the United States household consumption was above seventy percent, as a result of fast growth in real consumption (Shambaugh 190). In China on the other hand, household consumption as a percent of the GDP fell to 35 percent (Shambaugh 190). In terms of sorting out commercial and economic issues in and between the two nations, both governments have so far devoted a lot of energy and time and engaged in consultations with each other as they forge economic rebalancing. In the present President Obama’s era, he “pledged to double U.S. exports in five years and has initiated a series of programs designed to stimulate new, productive investment (including efforts to attract FDI from China)” (Shambaugh 190). In the spring of 2011, China unveiled a 12-year plan focused on economic rebalancing (Shambaugh 190). In the plan, a lot of emphasis is placed on boosting of domestic consumption in the nation. Cultural Relationship Since the end of the Second World War, cultural and educational relations have been an important aspect in the relationship between the United States and China. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations in 1979, China and the United States have signed many cultural and educational agreements. There are different forces that have driven close cultural relations between the United States over the years. For example, during the nineteenth century, private institutions and American citizens had the desire to get into the Chinese market and or save it since it could be said to be heathen (Li, Xiaobing and Li,Hongshan 153). Since the beginning of the nineteenth century, the United States took a lead role in sponsoring, regulating and coordinating cultural and educational activities in China. Consequently, United States cultural influence has been cultivated in China and vice versa. In the twentieth century, the trend continued. From this, it is clear that although cultural issues are usually given a back seat in matters, they are equally important. In the case of the United States and China, they play a major role in maintaining the relations. In recent years, the United States media has increased its coverage of China. Chinese news is common in United States news shows and newspapers. Military Security Relationship During his first diplomatic visit to China in 2009, President Obama affirmed that the twenty-first century will be shaped by the relationship between the United States and China (Gates 53). According to Gates, “sustainable and reliable US-China military to military ties are an important component of the overall bilateral US-China relationship and are necessary for the relationship to be comprehensive” (53). It is a fact that the security environment of the Asia-Pacific region, as well as that of the entire globe needs a lot of positive dialogue between China and the United States. This is so as to ensure that disagreements are properly handled. China continues to grow in terms of military capabilities, an issue that could bring turbulence and friction if not properly handled. Despite the fact that Chinese president, Hu Jintao vowed his commitment to work to improve military to military exchanges and contacts and further develop them, it has been difficult to achieve a sustained exchange program (Gates 53). This is because the military relationship between the United States and China has been on and off, and this makes it difficult for the armed forces of both nations to reduce risks of miscalculation or misapprehension, boost communications, promote mutual understanding and explore sectors in which they can cooperate. In terms of what the future holds for the military relationship between China and the United States, “the United States seeks to work with China to find meaningful ways to define the terms of the military to military relationship, not by the differences between the two sides, but rather by the interests they share” (Gates 54). The United States department of defense has the goals of developing similar views with China in regard to the global security environment and security challenges related to it, promoting institutional understanding and building cooperative capacity. Conclusion China and the United States continue to dominate as the two superpowers in the international system. For more than a century now, the United States has dominated a central position in world politics and very little has been seen from China. However, China is now catching up. From the current growth trends, China seems to be moving at a high rate and if the trend continues, the United States economy could be overtaken by that of China. This is because today, China is the first trading partner with most nations in Asia and it continues to build investment and commercial presence in continents such as Africa, as well as all over the world. In terms of military capability, China is still behind the United States, and for this reason, the United States still holds its position as the only superpower in the world. The potential for China to challenge the United States in future is still very high. In regard to what the global politics of the twenty-first century have in store, it can be said that the politics will be shaped by the relationship between China and the United States. This means that if these relations get subjected to rivalry, competition for arms, and geopolitical conflicts, the peace, unity and stability of the general international system will be compromised. However, if the nations find ways of maintaining good relations and sorting out any differences they might have in terms of security, political and economic issues, peace, unity and stability will abound across the global system. It can therefore be concluded that while trouble has been predicted, the way these two nations will handle issues can bring out a positive result. Works Cited Duiker, William and Jackson Spielvogel. World History, Volume II: Since 1500. Belmont: Thomson Higher Education, 2007. Print. Edwards, Paul M. The Korean War. Westport: Greenwood Press, 2006. Print. Gates, Robert M. Military and Security Developments Involving the Peoples Republic of China 2010. Washington DC: Office of the Secretary of Defense, 2010. Print. Guo, Sujian and Baogang Guo. Greater China in an Era of Globalization. Maryland: Lexington Books, 2010. Print. Guo, Sujian and Baogang Guo. Thirty Years of China-U.S. Relations: Analytical Approaches and Contemporary Issues. Maryland: Lexington Books, 2010. Print. Hauser, Gunther and Franz Kernic. China: The Rising Power. Frankfurt: Peter Lang GmbH, 2009. Print. Lanteigne, Marc. Chinese Foreign Policy: An Introduction. Oxon: Routledge, 2013. Print. 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