The
Beijing government distinguishes itself in the international arena with its
gruff manner. It has a demonstrably tough attitude. In this way, it has
achieved the opposite of what it desires most: recognition.
Chinese, it is said, must
never allow themselves to lose face. But how should they handle the “face” of
others? On the political front, China’s government is increasingly leaving the
impression that it is acting particularly un-Chinese. Beijing's diplomats are
increasingly attracting attention because of their unnecessary gruffness. This
was most recently seen in its attitude toward Japan; and before that, toward neighboring
countries in the South China Sea; and for years in its monetary conflict
against the entire world. Is this the face of the new superpower?
Beijing's politicians
reiterate at every opportunity that China doesn't want to be a threat to other
countries. They say they are merely pursuing a policy of “peaceful development,”
and point to the fact that the entire global economy and thousands of foreign
companies are reaping the benefits of the economic boom in the People’s
Republic.
That’s true! But how can the neighbors
not get affright, when Beijing turns a political trifle into a confrontation
with Japan? The arrest of a captain whose fishing boat rammed two Japanese
coast guard vessels in disputed waters resulted in the cancelation of all
high-level political meetings; has inflamed anti-Japanese sentiment; and vital
raw materials shipments have been blocked. [Chiefly, rare earth minerals for
electronics].
How can China’s South Asian neighbors
- Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and the Philippines - not be concerned, when the
People’s Republic equips its navy for operations on the open sea and plants
flags at the bottom of the South China Sea to assert claims to territories that,
based on applicable
United Nations conventions, belong to its South Asian neighbors? (By the
way, China arrests dozens of Vietnamese fishermen every year in disputed ocean
territories and often only lets them go months later in exchange for ransom). And
how is it possible for other nations not to object when China uses its artificially
cheap currency to devour its global competitors - a policy that above all imposes
suffering on other developing and emerging nations, whose competitiveness is
undermined by the People’s Republic?
The question is not whether
the Chinese have the right to fight for their interests on the international stage
- of course they do, and neither are they required more than other nations to
wear kid gloves. The question is whether China's current strategy takes the
country where it wants to go: to greater prosperity, greater influence and
greater international acceptance.
Why can’t China adopt softer
tone toward Japan, calmly seek compromise with its neighbors bordering the
South China Sea and make some concessions toward the world on the currency
dispute? In Beijing, there is an assumption that China must consistently demonstrate
toughness, or otherwise it won't be taken seriously. At the same time, it is a
growing source of national pride for Chinese to stand up to the rest of the
world.
Posted
by WORLDMEETS.US
China no longer wants to put
up with the arrogance of the West, particularly of the U.S. - not noticing that
it has long since copied it. In this way, the People’s Republic loses ground on
its claim to become a better world power - a credible leading nation for
mankind’s impoverished majority. China could also be setting in motion a dangerous
self-fulfilling prophecy: the more emphatically Beijing accuses other nations
of trying to contain it, the more likely that the world will be compelled to
actually do so.
Tokyo, which was recently
seeking greater independence from big brother Washington, is suddenly showing a
renewed interest in closer ties. Vietnam as well, feels itself forced to enter into
a military alliance with its former enemy. And even though America’s claim to
global leadership is meeting resistance in a growing number of countries, the
world is nonetheless watching with suspenseful admiration to see whether the
government in Washington will really dare to attempt a showdown on the yuan issue,
which Congress is trying to usher in with its latest decision on retaliatory tariffs,
an action that other nation is prepared to attempt.
There can no longer be any
doubt that China is a strong global power. But strength isn't only about
proving one’s toughness. China would be well advised to allow other countries to
preserve what they demand for themselves: face.
