The Chinese communist regime wants to present its growth in economic power and military expansion as a "peaceful rise." Yet, its military modernization, lack of economic accountability, and its diplomatic actions around the globe—for example, Sudan and Iran—raise serious questions about its true intentions.
Thomas Christensen, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, stated the problem:
"Will China use its rising influence in ways that are compatible with U.S. interests, or will it seek to advance interests that undermine the global system, and the peace and prosperity it has provided for so many around the world? Will China's increased wealth and worldliness lead to a more open, transparent, and stable society at home?"
Christensen was speaking before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC), August 3. Created by an act of Congress in 2000, the Commission advises on the national security implications of the economic relationship between the United States and China. The Commission conducted public hearings August 3 and 4, in the Russell Senate Office Building of the nation's capital on "China's Role in the World: Is China a Responsible Stakeholder?"
Policy experts and academic scholars discussed the effects of China's global outreach and the extent to which China's actions can be characterized as those of a "responsible stakeholder" in international affairs. Vice Chairman Carolyn Bartholomew pointed out China's complicity with countries that abuse human rights and threaten international peace. She said, "understanding China's intentions globally, like most of its governmental affairs, suffers from its lack of transparency."
Commissioner and Co-Chair of the hearing, Dan Blumenthal, added that China needs to be held accountable with penalties when it doesn't act as a "responsible stakeholder," and perhaps Congress has a role to play in this matter.
To launch the hearing, the Commission heard from Senator James M. Inhofe (R-OK). Inhofe is very worried about China, not least of which, he says, is the media turning its attention to other issues.
Inhofe briefly discussed several of his concerns, which had the same pessimistic, critical tone that characterized Commissioners Bartholomew and Blumenthal opening remarks. By contrast, Secretary Christensen was much more hopeful, and said the prospects were good that China will play in the future a more positive role in the global system.
"The Chinese people have reaped tremendous economic benefits over the past two decades from China's opening and engagement with the global economy. China can succeed only if the global system from which it derives benefit does as well. This gives China an enormous stake in the success of the global system."
Christensen, who was the sole speaker representing the Bush administration, was optimistic that China will see it in its own interest to align itself with the major stakeholders, including the U.S. Thus, the American foreign policy toward the PRC is to welcome China's economic growth and prosperity while wanting "China to play by the same basic rules, and to meet the same international obligations, as any other powerful country," said Dr. Ernest J. Wilson III, Professor of Government and Politics from the University of Maryland.
Here are some of the issues that repeatedly came up as matters of concern.
Proliferation:
China is a known violator of non-proliferation treaties. Christensen said, "[China] needs to do more to rein in the proliferation activities of its own companies." Blumenthal cited a CIA report in 2003 that missile technology, raw materials, and assistance to rogue nations Iran and North Korea. Progress has been made at least on getting Beijing to agree to standards of conduct regarding weapons and technology transfers. China came down hard on North Korea over its provocative missile launches, and, with the U.S., supported the strongly worded UN Security Council Resolution 1695, which condemns the recent missile launches.
Regarding Iran's nuclear aspirations, Chinese officials have opposed Iran acquiring nuclear weapons and have called upon Tehran to honor its treaty commitments, said Dr. Calabrese. He said though that China strongly supports Iran's right to nuclear technology and nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Inhofe gave the Chinese credit for signing the UN Security council resolution condemning the recent missile tests, and for "freezing North Korean bank accounts in Macao last week."
Isolation of Taiwan:
Blumenthal: "China is using trade, especially in Asia, to isolate Taiwan economically in the region. China also is doing all it can by means of its efforts to expand its influence through Asia to minimize Taiwan's interactions with regional organizations." Taiwan is in a "deteriorating position" in Latin America and Central America as is true elsewhere around the world, said Cynthia A. Watson, from the National War College. Senator Inhofe: "[China] will continue to escalate the situation over Taiwan, raising the stakes in a game neither country can win."
Iran:
Does China provide missiles and missile technology to Iran in exchange for access to oil? China gets 13% of its energy from Iran. Dr. John Calabrese, said at the hearing that it is extremely hard to establish an "energy-for-arms link", but named three Chinese companies who are repeatedly cited and sanctioned by the U.S. State Department and Treasury Department. The concern here is that all three of these companies are state-owned defense enterprises and so at least nominally are under the control of the Chinese communist regime.
Sudan:
China is the dominant player in oil exploration, extraction, and infrastructure development in Sudan, according to Dr. Eric Reeves, who read a scathing report of China's role in protecting the Khartoum regime. The nine page report describes Beijing's "relentless military, commercial, and diplomatic support of the National Islamic Front," ensuring that no progress is made towards ending the genocide. The small arms shipped to Khartoum by China have been the regime's primary means of providing weapons to its deadly Janjaweed Arab militia, which is responsible for much of the murder, rape, and displacement. Chinese also provides medium and heavy arms, including military aircraft. China has even assisted Khartoum in developing a domestic armaments production capacity.
Western oil companies are loath to do business with a regime conducting genocidal counter-insurgency warfare against the indigenous populations of the primary oil regions. The Chinese by contrast have been "conspicuously contemptuous of human rights concerns for the consequences of oil development in southern Sudan."
China's veto on the UN Security Council has prevented any sufficiently powerful peacemaking force that would protect civilians and aid workers, and disarm the combatants. With China's unqualified support at the UN Security Council, Khartoum has no incentive to stop the genocidal warfare.
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