China & USA should abandon zero-sum Cold War mentality: China

[Lankan Ranger]

China & USA should abandon zero-sum Cold War mentality: China

Chinese President Hu Jintao urged an end to a zero sum Cold War relationship with the United States and proposed new cooperation, but resisted US arguments about why China should let its currency strengthen.

Indeed, in a sign that the future of the US currency continues to concern the most senior levels of the Chinese government, he said the dollar-based international currency system is a product of the past.

Overall though, Hu, who will visit Washington this week, struck an upbeat tone about ties with the United States in a rare written interview with two US newspapers, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post.

We should abandon the zero-sum Cold War mentality, he declared, and respect each other's choice of development path.

Hu suggested cooperation with the United States in areas like new energy sources, clean energy, infrastructure development, aviation and space.

He also reassured foreign businesses in China that Beijing would continue to improve laws and regulations affecting them.

And he spoke encouragingly about the outlook for resolving tensions on the Korean peninsula, an area of concern to both Washington and Beijing.

But the Chinese president also indicated he does not accept US arguments for Beijing to let its currency appreciate. Critics say China's undervaluing of the yuan gives it an unfair price advantage in international trade, contributing to the huge US trade deficit.

Analysts thought Hu's generally conciliatory tone augured well ahead of his Washington meetings with President Barack Obama and other officials.

Hu makes it clear that China intends to move forward on opening its markets, freeing up its exchange rate and restructuring its political system, but at its own pace and with little heed to external pressures for more rapid or broader reforms, said Eswar Prasad, a Brookings Institution economist and former International Monetary Fund official.

The president's comments add to the sense that China intends to challenge the post-World War II financial order largely created by the United States and dominated by the dollar, the Wall Street Journal said.

The Chinese president responded to complaints that China does not always treat foreign companies registered in China fairly. Their innovation, production and business operations in China enjoy the same treatment as Chinese enterprises, he said.

China will continue to improve laws and regulations concerning foreign investment .... Hu said.

Bill Reinsch, president of the National Foreign Trade Council, said Hu glosses over the many problems foreign companies have had operating in China, but added it was useful to have the head of China's government state its goals.

Questions were submitted to Hu by the two US newspapers in late December, and the answers were released by the Chinese government on Sunday, The Washington Post said.

Hu said he sees signs of relaxation in tensions between North and South Korea, an issue of major concern to both Washington and Beijing.

Thanks to joint efforts by China and other parties, there have been signs of relaxation, Hu said. He was convinced an appropriate solution to the Korean nuclear issue could be found, a reference to North Korea's nuclear arms programs.

China, US should abandon zero-sum Cold War mentality: Hu

 

[cross1993]

China and the USA is not the enemy.

 

[siegecrossbow]

Given the current symbiotic relationship large scale conflict is very unlikely. The two countries are literally on the same boat. One would fare very badly without the other.

 

[duhastmish]

American by nature tend to be over paranoid.

they have to find something to scare the public . now its china - the russia is gone they want to runn around china and show them as evil force.

you can see it in media and hollywood. how they try to show evil china.

 

[Obambam]

China and the USA is not the enemy.

They are frienemies =)

 

[Akasa]

China and the US are the only two superpowers in history that actually cooperated with each other.

The so-called "tension" between the countries are simply areas where mutual trust hasn't met its full potential yet.

I expect China and the US to form very close relations (maybe a strategic partnership or even an informal alliance) in a decade.

 

[Obambam]

China and the US are the only two superpowers in history that actually cooperated with each other.

The so-called "tension" between the countries are simply areas where mutual trust hasn't met its full potential yet.

I expect China and the US to form very close relations (maybe a strategic partnership or even an informal alliance) in a decade.

Yes it makes more sense that way. In the ever modernising world, we must learn to accept new ideas and embrace new friends. The post WWII mentality is decades old and should be abolished for greater goods. One must remember that politics and alliances changes over time and history has proven that.

If America continues to see China as a threat and persues its interest in containing China, it will only end up with them hurting themselves. China has the economy, industry and more spending power than any other countries in the world right now.

 

[Akasa]

Yes it makes more sense that way. In the ever modernising world, we must learn to accept new ideas and embrace new friends. The post WWII mentality is decades old and should be abolished for greater goods. One must remember that politics and alliances changes over time and history has proven that.

If America continues to see China as a threat and persues its interest in containing China, it will only end up with them hurting themselves. China has the economy, industry and more spending power than any other countries in the world right now.

Correct. The modern world is very different from great-power politics of the early 20th century (remember what happened back then?). In a world where people across the globe are interconnected every second, it is crucial that we cooperate, not compete.

Cooperation is beneficial to both parties. Competition is not. Biology itself teaches that.

 

[below_freezing]

The US will not abandon its zero sum game mentality. We should also not actively provoke the animal, but be ready when it leaps the wall in its final struggle and deter US forces from even thinking about attacking us. As the USD gradually loses its stranglehold on the world, the US will eventually slip into nothing like the British Empire did. If we are lucky, hyperinflation, mass riots, and a nuclear civil war in the US will wipe out this aberration of history with no lives for others lost.

 

[Obambam]

The US will not abandon its zero sum game mentality. We should also not actively provoke the animal, but be ready when it leaps the wall in its final struggle and deter US forces from even thinking about attacking us. As the USD gradually loses its stranglehold on the world, the US will eventually slip into nothing like the British Empire did. If we are lucky, hyperinflation, mass riots, and a nuclear civil war in the US will wipe out this aberration of history with no lives for others lost.

Every country has ways of defending itself. China certainly has their own wide range of deterrances ranging from nuclear warheads; man power; industry; anti access capabilities and space warfare to its rapidly growing economy.

However, cooperations and seeking further understanding is a must in this day and age. Without those then there will be no stability, trust and progression.

The world can clearly see for themselves the struggle the American economy is having. The least they want is to aggitate and provoke China, this will only result in them clipping their own wings.

I like American people in general and I don't want to see their country fail, but at the same time I also wish that they can get some sense in them by removing their aggressive stance against China and show more respect to nations around the world.

 

[cross1993]

China and the US are the only two superpowers in history that actually cooperated with each other.

The so-called "tension" between the countries are simply areas where mutual trust hasn't met its full potential yet.

I expect China and the US to form very close relations (maybe a strategic partnership or even an informal alliance) in a decade.

China is not a superpower, and China is fast emerging as global powers. USA is the only superpower.
China does not want to be a superpower. We want a world with no superpowers. No nation should have disproportionate influence in foreign affairs. Superpower is just a word suitable to boost the pride of enthusiastic nationalists.

 

[siegecrossbow]

China is not a superpower, and China is fast emerging as global powers. USA is the only superpower.
China does not want to be a superpower. We want a world with no superpowers. No nation should have disproportionate influence in foreign affairs. Superpower is just a word suitable to boost the pride of enthusiastic nationalists.

Not to derail the thread but where did you get your profile picture? I've seen it a lot.

 

[BigTree.CN]

Zero-sum Cold War mentality doesn't exist in Chinese mind, the reason is simple, China is still out of American league in many ways. I am not being pessimistic here, but the fact remains China can't afford to play a zero-sum game with US on a full scale.

However zero-sum Cold War mentality has been persisting in American heads since the end of cold war, "you are with me or you are against me". If there is any zero-sum game between China and US in the present or in the future, China is just forced into the game.

 

[Obambam]

Zero-sum Cold War mentality doesn't exist in Chinese mind, the reason is simple, China is still out of American league in many ways. I am not being pessimistic here, but the fact remains China can't afford to play a zero-sum game with US on a full scale.

However zero-sum Cold War mentality has been persisting in American heads since the end of cold war, "you are with me or you are against me". If there is any zero-sum game between China and US in the present or in the future, China is just forced into the game.

China and America is like a conjoined twin. No matter how much they distrust or dislike one another, they are still going to be together. They are too intertwined to be pulled apart now.

Chinese benefits from American investments a great deal just like how the Americans are benefitting from Chinese cheap labour, goods and financial lending. Both countries now live in an era in which cooperation is more vital than rivalry. They both realise this but they still need to put up a posture for publicity sake, otherwise they wouldn't bother with all the endless pursue of dialogues.

There is still a lot to learn from one another, the potential of what can be achieved by these two powers working together are immense.

It's not that China can't afford for the zero-sum cold war mentality, it is just that they do not want to go down that particular path.

The position has been reversed now. America more or less resembles the ex Soviet Union. The Soviet Union, post WWII, had to rebuild their infrastructures, improve its economy but instead they dedicated all its funds on making weapons and nuclear warheads. China on the other hand is like the former America where they have a huge industry backed by the ever growing economy. If zero-sum cold war mentality was to be pursued, Americans will be the ones to have it on the worser end of the stick. Afterall Chinese do have the monopoly on rare earth minerals, industry and the economic prowess to crash the US dollar and causing hyperinflation resulting in mass civil unrest.

 

[Akasa]

China is not a superpower, and China is fast emerging as global powers. USA is the only superpower.
China does not want to be a superpower. We want a world with no superpowers. No nation should have disproportionate influence in foreign affairs. Superpower is just a word suitable to boost the pride of enthusiastic nationalists.

China is a "second superpower". China's political power is rivaling that of the US. That alone makes it a "superpower". One doesn't have to be #1 in order to become "superpower".

Yes, agreed. China does not want to be a superpower. But that doesn't mean it doesn't want to develop. What China means is that it's goal is not to become a superpower (meaning it won't force to be one).

Cooperation with US is the best way. The US and China have a lot to learn from each other. China and the US already have pretty close ties and cooperation with each other compared to previous decades.

Sure, you may say that influence should not be "disproportionate", but that's all just a political fantasy. In real life diplomacy, powerful countries get the upper hand. Countries with especially dominating hard power (military, etc) has the power to make lopsided decisions. That's just how the world works. Don't like it? Nor does China.