More recently, the misguided construct – China pursues to reshape the international order and replace America as the world hegemon through economic, diplomatic, military and technology prowess – has intensified within the US. Washington seems to be frustrated by the failure of its “China Fantasy” – draw the Asia giant to the Western liberalization and make it more like the West – and is undertaking an unabashed approach to rein in Beijing.
The US diplomats have openly warned Chinese economic growth and defense and space capabilities can threaten to America’s global economy, hegemony and interests. Yet China doesn’t favor any kind of hegemony: partial, loose or malleable. From 1974 when Deng Xiaoping addressed the United Nations General Assembly to Xi Jinping, every Chinese leader has denied seeking hegemony regardless how powerful Beijing becomes and called for an equitable management of global affairs without enforcing any country’s rules on others.
China’s consistent position, over the years, has successfully prevented the world from accepting America’s paradigm shift on Chinese ambitions to dominate the global economic, technological and strategic ecosystem. Still on assuming office, the US President Joe Biden quickly accused China for practicing economic “abuses and coercion,” walking back from his promise to unite American nation that is now more divided than in the Vietnam War.
Washington piggybacks to supercharge Chinese growth. It’s albeit pre-1978 China, the International Monetary Fund estimated, had seen a growth of 6% as the country patted rural enterprises and private businesses, liberalized foreign trade and investment, relaxed state control and invested in industrial production and education. The efforts to awaken the dormant economic giant paid off and the Chinese economy expanded at an average real growth rate of more than 9% in the coming years. In the 1990s, some analysts even predicted the Chinese economy will be “larger than” that of the US in about 20 years.
A “surprise conclusion” of the Fund in 1997 found China’s increased worker efficiency – as well as expansion of new factories, manufacturing machineries and communication systems – provided an impetus to China’s economy. The “newest” economic wonder in Asia then actualized in “the most impressive miracle of any economy in the history” in recent times.
The current administration too thinks China is “taking advantage of the openness” of the US economy. Biden, at least, should eschew smearing Chinese economic expansion for he, during his first trip to Beijing in 1979, had personally witnessed the changes that were being taken to “spark China’s remarkable, absolutely remarkable transformation.” The young member of a US Foreign Relations Committee had sought America and the West to stop debating whether a “rising China” was in its or the wider world’s interest as such a state “is a positive, positive development” for everyone.
For a world going through unprecedented turbulence and transformation, unrestricted cooperation between China and the US isn’t discretionary; it’s absolute imperative. As the Beijing-Washington relationship runs out of room for further deterioration, extensive efforts are urgently required to get the most critical relations back to normal.
Already, the US intensifying rivalry with China has impeded bilateral cooperation on major global challenges such as vaccine distribution and economic and peace crises management. Tariffs are aggravating uncertainty over international trade and global supply chains. The Asia-Pacific is being forced to yield its deep economic interests with China for the US security guarantee.
In almost two-hour call with Xi this March, Biden reiterated the US doesn’t aim to change China’s system, doesn’t want a cold war with China, doesn’t support “Taiwan’s independence,” and the US-led coalitions aren’t targeted against China. He assured his Chinese counterpart about his eagerness to hold candid dialogue and closer cooperation, vouching to remain committed to one-China principle.
Biden’s assurances to manage competition between the two countries, maintain open lines of communications with China and follow up on the conversations are good; but not good enough to set the course for a better world in the 21st century. Tempus fugit! In the “critical period ahead,” some tangible actions are needed from Washington to demonstrate it really intends to restore trust and seeks cooperation from Beijing.
Unfortunately, the US president avowals to handle differences and strategic risks haven’t been reflected in the China-US talks. From Alaska and Tianjin to Singapore summit, the Biden administration continues to touch upon every single issue that pollutes the climate of cooperation and slurs Beijing’s development and independence on unsubstantiated claims such as alleged human rights violations, cyberspace attacks and “economic coercion” as well as disturbs decades-old policy, guaranteeing peace across the Taiwan Strait.
China is a country with “significant economic and strategic interests” for America and the world. The US needs to wake from its slumber of swallowing up any country that it feels could challenge its global hegemony. Washington should act like a responsible international state, which has the mettle to stomach Chinese evolution and take Beijing along for a stable and thriving world. It’s no more an era that can endure another cold war-defined world order. Coming out from the shock of China’s rise and a change of both perception about Beijing and the adversarial aspect of the US’ China policy will help Biden to engage in a meaningful dialogue with China.
*This is one of my articles (unedited) that also appeared in "The Express Tribune":