The China Factor

Moira Whelan reminds me of an easily overlooked moment during the YearlyKos Democratic debate when Barack Obama emphasized that thought China is in some sense a competitor, it's not an enemy of the United States and we should strive to avoid turning it into one.

I wholeheartedly agree and think this is by far the biggest issue in this campaign that nobody's talking about. Sentiments about China policy tend not to break down along straightforward party lines. I think Bush's China policy has been mostly okay (certainly a triumph compared to most of the other things he's done) whereas neocons like Bill Kristol and Bob Kagan saw a "National Humiliation" in Bush's unwillingness to gin up a war with China over the EP-3 spy plane incident. Under the circumstances, it'd really be nice to hear what some different candidates think about this issue in some level of detail, but instead Obama made this brief remark and then we heard about China (from him and from the others) in purely economic terms rather than as a foreign policy issue.

Photo by Flickr user Mooney47 used under a Creative Commons license

Comments

If I remember my neocon propaganda right, the war in Iraq was just going to be a speed bump in a lightning round of Middle East reform, and that the crowning achievement of an aggressive military campaign to wipe the entire planet clean of evil would have ended with a US military enfilade completely isolating China from the rest of the world until they finally came to their senses and set all that self-evidently evil communism aside. Before 9/11 China was considered by these twats to be the new era's Soviet Union, and while terrorism has given them the enemy they always wanted, their attitude about the country hasn't changed..

Posted by Gordon Lightfoot | August 6, 2007 1:03 AM

I think that GL's got it about right about isolating China when you look at our policies toward all the countries around China, especially Japan and India. Plus we seem inexplicably to want to drive Russia and China back together by treating them both rudely.

One thing, the Pentagon is fixated on China, and the military seems to be running our foreign policy.

So Obama's remarks are refreshing, and Matt's correct in pointing out that it's much more than an economic issue. China has changed. It is no longer reclusive and no longer a place to be occupied and exploited by the west, it is a regional and even a world power and the US should not only avoid turning China into an enemy but learn to co-exist with it. After all, they are one of our principal suppliers, as well as a chief banker, holding a lot of the paper on our national debt.

Posted by Don Bacon | August 6, 2007 1:28 AM

Is it more correct to speak of Bush's China policy or China's Bush policy?

If I were in a game against an opponent who was repeatedly hitting himself over the head, why, I'd probably just relax and, um, let the game come to me, as they say...

Posted by Thers | August 6, 2007 2:44 AM

I agree that we shouldn't antagonize China or adopt some sort of pseudo-Cold War posture in relation to the great giant. I just wish my dear DVD player made in the People's Republic hadn't broken down after a year and a half of moderate use. I've had a long-standing affinity for Chinese culture in all its broad and rich diversity, her food, history, literature, etc. (not music!, alas, but maybe I haven't heard the right stuff)), but the Western consumer junk they churn out now for our glassy-eyed consumption is just that, junk. I realize this is a generalization and there are perhaps exceptions. Also, China's egregious human rights abuses and authoritarianism ought to give us some pause vis-a-vis our trade policies and our utter economic dependence on her. So, I would like to politely and [very un-militaristically] see a drastic change in our trade policies and a re-invigoration of America's manufacturing base. I find it interesting that the Uber-Unregulated-Free-Trade-Zealots who have served to so enhance China's power leverage in relation to the U.S. seem to be [some of] the same people pushing a Cold/Hot War with China in the geo-political military sphere. Ah, the wonderful contradictions and inanities of our various politico-socio-economic policies.

Posted by Warren | August 6, 2007 6:53 AM

Was isolating China really the plan? We seem to have done a better job of isolating ourselves.

Posted by rea | August 6, 2007 7:16 AM

Making cheap crap is the first step on the road to successful industrialization, Mr. Warren. Give China a couple more decades, and they'll start cranking out higher quality products (if you've got the dough for it). It's just a matter of time.

Posted by Gordon Lightfoot | August 6, 2007 7:25 AM

Hi Gordon, I guess I'll wait around for that day (I gotta da dough ready and waiting for the Chinese Gucci, burnin a hole in my pocket). I guess I just miss the day when craft, artisanship, real skills, etc., played a bigger calculus in the manufture of goods. I feel like the whole issue of cost v. quality doesn't get enough attention in our economic debate. I mean, we shouldn't have to buy stuff from Germany or Italy in order to have some confidence that it's actually well-made and will last a long time. I guess it's a question of values, priorities, as well.

Posted by Warren | August 6, 2007 9:21 AM

I am anti cold war with China and very much pro cheap imported Chinese consumer goods.

Posted by DRR | August 6, 2007 11:06 AM

I have been asking the candidates since the 2000 election cycle for their real thoughts about China to no avail. Politicians on both sides invariably answer the same way every time: reiterate that they support the three communiques that govern USA-China relations -- WE HAVE NO TREATY WITH CHINA -- and then embrace either the strategic 'competitor' line. Only Bill Clinton had the balls the say 'partner'.

China is the big pink elephant in the living room that is the USA. Nobody wants to deal rationally and the media and Congress are way out of step on this issue, constantly inundating us with negative images, sabre-rattling, and preparing us for the new bogey-man.

Posted by Sinomania! | August 6, 2007 12:55 PM