Deng Xiaoping's foreign policy - Essay Example

Though Korea and Japan are trade partners for US in Asia, the policies of US regarding China even dominated election manifesto of that Country. When discussing about the foreign policy of Deng Xiao Ping, it is reasonable to mention about US. The underlying reason is that in post cold war period, US emerged as a single super power and any country's foreign policy was compelled to keep US in consideration if it wants to be a major partner in world trade. Deng's policy was matter of discussion because China developed links with US despite confrontation in past and present (Taiwan).

The significant feature in the Deng's foreign policy is recognising the US as a sole super power in post cold war period. The growth of China compelled US to treat human rights and economic benefits separately. Development of Sino US relations: From the date of sworn in of George Bush in 1989 till the end of two term presidency of Bill Clinton Sino American relations took a dramatic changes. Bush even visited China before visiting Europe to state the new priorities and China reciprocated in the same way US responses.

1 The communication gap between China and Soviet Union, the down ward trend of Soviet Union's economy, George Bush's diplomacy in meeting China's leadership before Gorbachev met them made this foreign policy a successful thing for PRC (people's Republic of China). In the aftermath of Tiananmen Square incident China's top leadership recognised that US have its own compulsions regarding the moral and human values. From that point of time both the countries started responding cautiously to each other's acts and deeds.

The opening of China's market and the opportunities to establish industries there by US companies made Bill Clinton to treat human rights and economic issues separately to avoid sanctions on China. After 1994 gesture of Clinton there was even military confrontation between US and China regarding Taiwan Strait. But within one year China recognised the compulsions of US regarding Taiwan and summits were held between the two countries in 1997 and 1998, which resulted a strategic partnership between the two countries.

After that though a failure, US supported to include China in WTO. A saying was developed in diplomatic circles in between 1989-2000. It was "the American elections start with criticising China and the elected president term ends with developing relations with China". This gives the intentions of the leaders of both the countries to develop relations in spite of opposition in the home country. The reason is that the populations of the two countries interacted very less till then. The interaction is possible when the relations develop.

So instead of stepping into precipice, the leaders of both the countries tried to refrain themselves from criticising each other in the case of domestic and international developments. Though the per capita income of China is less than number of western countries, the vastness of its economy and number of customers in its 1.2 billion population made West and US to develop strategic relations with China. So if Deng's foreign policy was termed as a success, the credit goes to the economic development of China.

Though there are disparities in distribution of wealth in China, the size of the economy compels any