The relations between the U.S. and China - Essay Example

What are the Chinese interests at stake in Xi’s upcoming visit to the US, and what strategy should he pursue? Date Introduction Since the 1940s, the relations between the U.S and China are often rocky at times as a result of conflicting interests between the two world powers. Currently, there is tension between the two countries regarding China’s vested interest in the South China Sea and allegations over Beijing’s hacking into U.S’s federal government server. However, China’s President is expected to visit the United States, and this can set the stage to resolve any existing tension between the two countries. On the other hand, the Chinese interests that is at stake during President Xi’s visit to the United States range from improving bilateral, economic and military to military relations. China also stands to gain from the visit in terms of discussing global and regional issues and resolving differences (Kissinger, 2012). Bilateral Relations It is over three decades since U.S and China established diplomatic relations; however, the relations between the two countries are often tensed at times. This is especially the case where there has been a renewed American interest in the Asia in the midst of the rise of China to dominance in the region. Previous administrations before the Second World War, including those of Taft and Wilson, did not consider Asia to be of primary strategic importance to the United States; instead concentrating their efforts on the European theatre (Green, 2014). This stance however changed after the Second World War where the United States ended up getting involved in Asian affairs especially in the Korean Peninsula, Vietnam, Japan, and to a certain extent, China. China has over the last four decades seen a tremendous level of economic growth which has been accompanied with an increase in its military capabilities and this has led it towards challenging American dominance of the region. In this regard, the relationship that President Xi needs to pursue is one that is not influenced by strategic rivalry. In essence, President Xi needs to pursue a relationship with the United States that is based on healthy competition, cooperation and constructive management of differences or disagreements. On the other hand, interests between the two countries may overlap, and the visit is an opportunity for President Xi to solidify cooperation between the two world powers. Among the interests that Xi can pursue during his visit to the United States include, for instance, economic prosperity, discussing the tension on the Korean peninsula and other areas that the two countries tend to disagree. While it appears that cementing bilateral relations between the two countries is impossible due to conflicts of interest, it is clear that both U.S and China need each other to improve their economies. The United States, on the other hand, need to recognize China’s contribution in the Asia-Pacific (Shen, 2012). Improving relations with China also require the United States to take an approach that that is not geared to contain China. The relationship between the United States and China over the last century has been marked by a lack of understanding by the former towards the latter. The United States has for the most part failed to realize the aspirations of the Chinese and has often considered it to either not being important enough in its strategic interests, or seen it as a rival that needs to be countered. China on its part, needs to use President Xi’s visit to the United States to convince the world that of upholding basic rules and norms when dealing, for example, with its neighbors. China can also use the visit to advocate for the establishment of regional institutions to help promote cooperation between the two countries regardless of conflicting interests. On another note, the S&ED (Strategic and Economic Dialogue) is an opportunity for China to raise the major issue that they feel need to be resolved to improve the bilateral relations between the two countries. The S&ED is important for China and the United States in terms of ensuring that both countries pursue a cooperative and constructive relationship. Through the S&ED, China can set its goals on how to improve bilateral relations and discuss matters of mutual interest. As an emerging power, China has a role to play in the international sphere in terms of resolving regional challenges. The President of China can also use the visit to discuss the way forward with regard to hastening global economic recovery. Further, President Xi can also use the visit to discuss with his counterpart from the United States on ways to deal with global challenges that include, for instance, cyber security and counterterrorism (Shen, 2012). Economic Relations Since U.S and China are the two largest economies in the world, there is a need to tackle the trade imbalance between the two countries. President Xi needs to take advantage of the visit to improve bilateral engagements. However, the tension between the two countries emanates from China’s reluctance to undertake economic reforms to ensure trade imbalance between the two countries is reduced. The president can also use the visit to discuss the friction brought about by its policies that appears to impact negatively on U.S companies in China. The visit is an opportunity for China and the United States to fast track bilateral investment treaty negotiations that will benefit both economies. However, the Chinese interests that are at stake as a result of the visit include, for instance, the demand by the United States that China embrace a market –determined exchange rate. In addition, the President of China will have to deal with issues such as accommodating more U.S businesses and developing a regulatory regime that is more transparent. Conversely, the strategy that President Xi needs to take in trade negotiations with the United States should on the benefits that both countries can derive by making trade concessions (Kissinger, 2012). Military Relations The President can use the visit to discuss areas where both countries can cooperate to reduce risks. Further, the President of China can use the visit to improve high-level engagement between the militaries of the two countries. In the period following the Second World War, there was a determined American strategy designed to ensure that there was almost total American dominance over the Pacific (Green, 2014). The result was that the United States developed significant military assets in the region, especially in Japan and South Korea in a bid to secure its interests in the region. This strategy has come under strain in recent years as a result of the rapid military development of China. China’s military development has often been treated with suspicion; however, the visit provides an opportunity for China to address concerns by the United States regarding its military spending and modernization. Being transparent with China’s military development will ensure that the United States understands the motivations of China’s military development. On another note, President Xi also should expect the United States to raise concerns regarding its military maneuvers in the Asia-Pacific Region. This is in light of China’s growing interest in the South China Sea. The South China Sea is an area where many of America’s allies in the region have interests and China’s assertiveness has come to be considered as a threat especially by such countries as the Philippines and Japan. The rise of Chinese nationalist policy in the region has caught many countries in the region, especially the United States unawares. The result has been that the United States has sought to adopt containment as a means of breaking Chinese assertiveness; a policy similar to the one which was adopted against the Soviet Union during the Cold War (Green, 2014). Conversely, the United States also has its strategic interests in the Asia-Pacific region and cooperation military wise will play a role in reducing tension between the two nuclear powers (Shen, 2012). Dealing with global and regional issues China today is considered to be the world’s leading energy consumer, and this raises concerns regarding the country’s effort to reduce their carbon footprint. However, it should also be noted that the United States has a similar challenge. In this regard, the two countries appear to share a common interest and China’s president can use this opportunity to explore with his counterpart alternative ways of reducing their carbon footprint. In essence, the visit is an opportunity for President Xi to improve cooperation with the United States regarding climate change, energy and how to improve environmental protection. On the other hand, China has an important role to play when it comes to proliferation challenges. This includes, for instance, China’s influence in North Korea that can help to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula (Shen, 2012). Further, the President’s visit to the United States will provide an avenue for both sides to discuss how to advance shared goals with regard to the challenges facing, for instance, the Korean Peninsula. In addition, the rise of China in Asia also requires cooperation with the United States that also has a strategic interest in the region. This will help to reduce tension between the two powers and ensure there is peace and stability in the region (Shen, 2012). Settling Differences Currently, there is concern regarding China’s growing interest in the South China Sea, which is affecting its international standing. On the other hand, the United States also has an interest in the South China Sea, and this has increased tensions between the two countries due to conflict interests. As such, President Xi’s visit to U.S can be a starting point for initiating dialogue on how to resolve the South China Sea dispute (Kissinger, 2012). Conclusion While bilateral relations exist between the U.S and China, tensions have emerged from time to time due to differences on how to tackle various global issues. However, the United States and China needs to improve their cooperation in tackling global challenges. In this regard, President Xi’s visit to the United States is important in terms of ensuring that the two world powers develop a common ground on how to address global challenges and improve their bilateral, economic and military relations. References Green, M.J. (2014). The Problem of Asia: American Strategy towards the Pacific from the Birth of the Republic to the Rise of China. Kissinger, H.A. (2012).The future of U.S.-Chinese relations. Foreign Affairs, 91(2), 44-55. Shen, D. (2012).A review of China-U.S. relations (1979-2018): Past, Present and Future. Washington Journal of Modern China, 10(2), 34-52. Read More