Why America is worried about China

Sunday, 09 May 2010
Written by Solomon
Ethiopian Journal (USA)

While America worries about Chinese military capability, the Chinese growth in influence should be of far more concern. In the past couple of decades, China has successfully remade it's imagine around the world, but nowhere more so than in Asia. In the 1970's, China's foreign policy centred around overt hostility towards not only the free world, but also most of the Communist world. They were an active sponsor of Marxist rebel groups all the way from Africa to the Philippines, the worked to destabilize nations along their borders, they initiated a devastating class war on their own people, and they adopted an excessively hostile stance toward the United States.

Since that time, China has developed a highly professional foreign service. Whereas American diplomats are often stationed in any particular country for three years or less, Chinese diplomats are encouraged to stay for as long as possible. They very often are fluent in the local languages, have lived in the country for ten or more years, and are able to make on the spot decisions that any democratic country would not be able to do.

They've long ago ceased sponsoring armed resistance groups, and instead have begun working to convince developing and developed nations alike that they pose no threat and are only interested in "win-win" deals. Additionally, they offer themselves as a unique voice in the world in that they don't question the domestic policies of any country, even when it comes to basic human rights.

This has allowed dictatorships such as that of Burma and also that of Somalia to trade their oil and other natural resources free of political criticism. No western developed nation, or Japan for that matter, would ever want to be seen as being close to the brutal regime in Somalia or in Burma, but for China those considerations barely register. Other countries, such as Venezuela have also found a sympathetic ear in China, which in turn threatens the American oil supply.

Beyond these trade deals, China has begun to aggressively promote it's language and culture abroad. Though little of this reaches the United States, South-East Asia and Australia have been targeted by this charm campaign with great success. Opinions toward the People's Republic have improved immensely over the past two and a half decades as China frequently approaches these countries with cultural exchange offers, development aid, and a smiling face.

In the post 9/11 world, while the U.S was disengaging from much of Asia, China was increasing it's presence in every regard. Universities across The People's Republic of China have opened their doors wide to allow students from all over the world to study, often with financial assistance. At the same time, fewer and fewer foreign students were studying in the U.S due to tighter visa regulations. This does not necessarily mean that Chinese education would attempt any sort of propaganda campaign, for that would be too obvious. China's approach is far more subtle. They have an open door policy designed to create the impression that China is warm, friendly and anything but dangerous.

There are aspects of China's military capability that might be of concern to Americans. No longer will the United States be able to act in the Asia-Pacific region without at least recognizing that the Chinese navy is quickly developing into a sophisticated, white water capable force. The U.S Pacific fleet is still deterrent enough to prevent Chinese military action in Taiwan, but the cost of any potential conflict grows by the day, and soon America will likely decide that the risk of protecting Taiwan is simply not worth the shaky friendship they have with them.

China is not likely to invade other countries, but they will be able to remove much of the U.S influence from the region unless the U.S convinces Asian countries that they can provide a positive counter balance to China. Cambodia, for example. has long had concerns about domination by China. The U.S could find a welcoming voice in Cambodia, if she were to decide to reengage with the region.

In closing, I would argue that the U.S has little to fear from direct Chinese action, but the U.S is losing relative influence and power due to China's rapid growth in influence and power.