Posted by Random at 11:32pm Feb 2 '10So what's with all the Chinese friction in recent news? First, the Taiwan arms deal and purportedly soon, meeting with Dalai Lama.
Now, I understand that with Taiwan, there was a bilateral agreement between us and them saying we'll aid them against Chinese threats and also reasons for security and stability in the region and so on. Was there a primary reason for it though? Since it was, what, a $6.4 billion deal, was that what enticed us? Is it because Taiwan is a strong ally? Is it because Taiwan's military power quite lags behind China's? I'd just like it straight out and I'm asking you guys.
Secondly, what does Obama hope to accomplish with seeing Dalai Lama, especially this close to after the Taiwan arms deal surfaced? Is it more of a showcasing his stance on human rights and such? I think I read that he agreed to meet with him some time ago and is just following up on his word, but why must he do so immediately after doing the Taiwan arms deal. Why can he not at least smooth things out with China first? Is he trying to get the bad all over with in one go and then try to patch relations up? I don't quite understand his thinking.
One theory, at least in The Economist, is that Obama is punishing China for its shabby treatment of him during last November's presidential visit to Beijing (I'm confused. What shabby treatment? I don't actually know), as well as for it's sluggishness with the sanctions on Iran and Copenhagen's climate summit. From reuters, I am reading, "Chinese President Hu Jintao is expected to visit the United States later this year. Both sides praised an Obama visit to China in November as showing deepening cooperation." so I really don't know what the shabby treatment being referred to is all about.
All this strain in China is making me a bit uneasy. Perhaps it's because it's their economy which is skyrocketing and now they're gaining the self-confidence needed to challenge decisions made on the world level. There is a certain magnitude behind their words. Maybe I'm just imagining this, but they are the world's No. 3 economy, soon to be No. 2 and I do worry about future Sino-US relations.
On top of this strain, there's also the recent internet censorship bruise with Google and the idea in general, to further complicate the situation. I feel like Obama is really walking dangerously on the edge with China. Maybe you guys have some better input that you can tell me about, but all I'm seeing right now is a lot of strain and tension and complication of relations.
Another note I'd like to bring up is that due to the Taiwan arms deal, China is threatening sanctions against participating companies, correct? Wouldn't this hurt them? Or is it because the companies deal with arms/weaponry? My understanding was that the US debt is partly China's burden since the two are so interconnected with industry. Would sanctions against arms manufacturers hurt China in any way or is that something that China would like since it means no arms for Taiwan and harming a US company which aids in strengthening the US's military power?
If we don't patch relations with China, I think it will effect a lot more than just the two of us. We're asking them to back us on our nuclear warfare stance as well as talk with them over climate change, etc. Now I also realize we have only publicly notified everyone of the arms sale and that Congress apparently has 30 days to block such a sale. But that's never happened as far as I can tell. And it's probably not going to. Whether they reach a decision by the 30-day deadline or not will determine a lot more than who's getting $6.4 billion.
Now, I understand that with Taiwan, there was a bilateral agreement between us and them saying we'll aid them against Chinese threats and also reasons for security and stability in the region and so on. Was there a primary reason for it though? Since it was, what, a $6.4 billion deal, was that what enticed us? Is it because Taiwan is a strong ally? Is it because Taiwan's military power quite lags behind China's? I'd just like it straight out and I'm asking you guys.
Secondly, what does Obama hope to accomplish with seeing Dalai Lama, especially this close to after the Taiwan arms deal surfaced? Is it more of a showcasing his stance on human rights and such? I think I read that he agreed to meet with him some time ago and is just following up on his word, but why must he do so immediately after doing the Taiwan arms deal. Why can he not at least smooth things out with China first? Is he trying to get the bad all over with in one go and then try to patch relations up? I don't quite understand his thinking.
One theory, at least in The Economist, is that Obama is punishing China for its shabby treatment of him during last November's presidential visit to Beijing (I'm confused. What shabby treatment? I don't actually know), as well as for it's sluggishness with the sanctions on Iran and Copenhagen's climate summit. From reuters, I am reading, "Chinese President Hu Jintao is expected to visit the United States later this year. Both sides praised an Obama visit to China in November as showing deepening cooperation." so I really don't know what the shabby treatment being referred to is all about.
All this strain in China is making me a bit uneasy. Perhaps it's because it's their economy which is skyrocketing and now they're gaining the self-confidence needed to challenge decisions made on the world level. There is a certain magnitude behind their words. Maybe I'm just imagining this, but they are the world's No. 3 economy, soon to be No. 2 and I do worry about future Sino-US relations.
On top of this strain, there's also the recent internet censorship bruise with Google and the idea in general, to further complicate the situation. I feel like Obama is really walking dangerously on the edge with China. Maybe you guys have some better input that you can tell me about, but all I'm seeing right now is a lot of strain and tension and complication of relations.
Another note I'd like to bring up is that due to the Taiwan arms deal, China is threatening sanctions against participating companies, correct? Wouldn't this hurt them? Or is it because the companies deal with arms/weaponry? My understanding was that the US debt is partly China's burden since the two are so interconnected with industry. Would sanctions against arms manufacturers hurt China in any way or is that something that China would like since it means no arms for Taiwan and harming a US company which aids in strengthening the US's military power?
If we don't patch relations with China, I think it will effect a lot more than just the two of us. We're asking them to back us on our nuclear warfare stance as well as talk with them over climate change, etc. Now I also realize we have only publicly notified everyone of the arms sale and that Congress apparently has 30 days to block such a sale. But that's never happened as far as I can tell. And it's probably not going to. Whether they reach a decision by the 30-day deadline or not will determine a lot more than who's getting $6.4 billion.