Policy Alert #5 | January 29, 2011

Chinese President Hu Jintao will visit the United States next week from January 18 to 21. Read what the Chinese expectations are of this trip:

Ahead of Hu Jintao’s visit, the official tone is optimistic and confident, with editorials stressing the the shared interests of China and the United States, although other analysts take a more measured tone:

• The People’s Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, says that China should “seize the new momentum in Sino-US relations.” Citing the high volumes of trade and cultural exchanges between China and the U.S., the paper argues that “the space of mutual benefit and a win-win outcome” can be further expanded if the “US and China face challenges hand-in-hand.”

On military issues, several articles stress that China is not seeking to challenge the U.S., while making clear that China needs to and deserves to develop its military capabilities:

• “Mutual tolerance means both sides acknowledge and never challenge each other’s legal space and interests, including the development of military forces. The People’s Liberation Army is not capable and could never attempt to challenge the United States’ advantage in regional and global military maneuvers, nor does China plan to seek regional military hegemony.”

• In light of the visit to China by US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, these pieces also emphasize the long-term mutual benefit of strengthening bilateral military cooperation. An editorial in the Global Times, an affiliate of the People’s Daily, says that “Despite the need to step up its military buildup, China should not set a long-term goal of comprehensively surpassing the US. This is both impractical and even risky.”

• However, commenting on US reaction to China’s development of a stealth jet, the Global Times also ran an op-ed titled, “World-class military not exclusive luxury.” It argues that “Raising its voices in certain international affairs, [China] risks being labeled as tough or overly assertive. But China can no longer forego its own basic rights.”

Individual experts provided the following commentary on China’s relations with the U.S.:

• Jin Canrong, deputy director of the School of International Studies at Renmin University in Beijing: Declining U.S. power calls for a “recalibration” of Beijing’s ties with the U.S. It presents two sides of a coin, because “”It may be an opportunity for China – but, more importantly, it brings huge responsibility that China cannot easily handle.“

• Yuan Peng, an expert on US studies with the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations: Beijing should maximize the ways in which it can cooperate with Washington on shared interests. “”By exploring cooperation with the US in the UN Security Council reform, the regularization of G20, post-Copenhagen configuration and nuclear disarmament, China can enjoy its rights while assuming its proportionate responsibility.”

• Li Hongmei, editor and columnist of People Daily’s Online: The U.S. should show “more flexibility and sincerity” on working with China on North Korea, and “avoid using aggressive and hawkish language” on the South China Sea territorial issues. Taiwan remains a priority concern for not only the Chinese government, but also its citizens, whose anti-Americanism largely stems from “American involvement in Taiwan.” Furthermore, “many ordinary Chinese citizens view the U.S. demands to reevaluate the RMB as an attempt to contain China and limit China’s growth.”

• Huang Renwei, vice-president of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences further notes that China’s identity as an emerging power is shaped by its relations with the BRICS countries. Working with them and other major developing countries through bilateral and multilateral channels will “help stabilize China’s international environment and reassure powers such as India and Russia that a growing China will not threaten them or challenge their interests.”