Chinese officials are far too sophisticated to follow the Soviet example and say "we will bury you" to US visitors. But they exude robust self-confidence.
Along with rapid economic growth has come increased diplomatic penetration around the world, as well as a growing military. The People's Republic of China is on the move.
As a result, more than a few Americans, along with some of their Asian allies, are worrying that "they will bury us." Or go to war trying to do so.
Hopefully not. But pitfalls in the US-China relationship abound.
A good place to start in trying to understand China is China: The Balance Sheet, a joint project by the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Institute for International Economics.
The authors observe: "The direction that China and US-China relations take will define the strategic future of the world for years to come. No relationship matters more -- for better or worse -- in resolving the enduring challenges of our time."
Despite China's economic progress, rural Chinese, who make up two-thirds of the population, remain desperately poor. Although China is likely to continue growing, it faces enormous challenges. Thus, suggest the writers, while we should expect more growth, temporary stagnation or even collapse is possible.
The volume maintains a similar measured tone throughout. On the critical issue of US-China relations, there is good news, at least in the short term.
The researchers write: "Beijing seems to understand its limitations at present. Chinese leaders have no illusions that the PLA [People's Liberation Army] is a match for the US military, will catch up in the foreseeable future, or will measurably narrow the gap in comprehensive national power for decades, at least."
Despite inevitable disagreements, there is no intrinsic reason for conflict between China and the US. Ensuring that they don't is the task for thoughtful diplomacy.
Jed Babbin and Edward Timberlake, long-time hawks, take a very different view in Showdown: Why China Wants War With the United States. They see China as a looming threat, dedicated to the destruction of the US.
Indeed, in their view, China "is now engaged in a second cold war, the Pacific Cold War, with the United States." The next step is armed conflict, and: "This war will begin when China decides the time for it has come."
Their main argument is that Beijing is building up its military. But from China's perspective, such a build-up, which starts from a very low, antiquated base, could be seen as defensive, designed to deter the US from attacking China.
After all, Washington's increases in military outlays dwarf those of China. Moreover, the US freely attacks countries even when its vital interests are not at stake -- Iraq and Serbia being the most recent examples.
Babbin and Timberlake offer several war scenarios (one of the weirder ones involves Cuba, Columbia and China). But there is nothing in China's history or recent behavior to suggest an intention to challenge the US globally.
Thus, the real issue in US-China relations is continuing US hegemony in East Asia. It is unnatural to expect that Washington can forever dominate every continent. Washington must decide what issues warrant risking a massive regional war and nuclear exchange.
The worst flashpoint is Taiwan. Indeed, Ted Galen Carpenter of the Cato Institute devotes an entire book to the latter scenario.
There obviously are hawks in China, and they certainly are eyeing the US.
Yet, notes Carpenter: "It is often difficult for Americans and other Westerners to comprehend the depth of Chinese determination to get Taiwan to `return to the motherland.'"
In America's Coming War With China: A Collision Course Over Taiwan, Carpenter offers a scathing critique of Washington's current Taiwan policy: "Instead of achieving balance, the administration has increasingly sowed confusion, inviting miscalculation by Taipei or Beijing -- or even worse, by both capitals."
A friend of Taipei, Carpenter acknowledges the appeal of protecting what has become a prosperous democracy. Sell Taiwan weapons, he advocates. But don't provide a security guarantee, he warns.
The future of US-China relations will almost certainly be complicated, though obviously it is in the interests of everyone throughout East Asia that relations remain peaceful.
Let us hope that US policymakers do a better job of handling China than they have done of "managing" Middle Eastern affairs.
Doug Bandow was a special assistant to the late US president Ronald Reagan.
China has not been a top-tier issue for much of the second Trump administration. Instead, Trump has focused considerable energy on Ukraine, Israel, Iran, and defending America’s borders. At home, Trump has been busy passing an overhaul to America’s tax system, deporting unlawful immigrants, and targeting his political enemies. More recently, he has been consumed by the fallout of a political scandal involving his past relationship with a disgraced sex offender. When the administration has focused on China, there has not been a consistent throughline in its approach or its public statements. This lack of overarching narrative likely reflects a combination
US President Donald Trump’s alleged request that Taiwanese President William Lai (賴清德) not stop in New York while traveling to three of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies, after his administration also rescheduled a visit to Washington by the minister of national defense, sets an unwise precedent and risks locking the US into a trajectory of either direct conflict with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) or capitulation to it over Taiwan. Taiwanese authorities have said that no plans to request a stopover in the US had been submitted to Washington, but Trump shared a direct call with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平)
Heavy rains over the past week have overwhelmed southern and central Taiwan, with flooding, landslides, road closures, damage to property and the evacuations of thousands of people. Schools and offices were closed in some areas due to the deluge throughout the week. The heavy downpours brought by the southwest monsoon are a second blow to a region still recovering from last month’s Typhoon Danas. Strong winds and significant rain from the storm inflicted more than NT$2.6 billion (US$86.6 million) in agricultural losses, and damaged more than 23,000 roofs and a record high of nearly 2,500 utility poles, causing power outages. As
It is difficult to think of an issue that has monopolized political commentary as intensely as the recall movement and the autopsy of the July 26 failures. These commentaries have come from diverse sources within Taiwan and abroad, from local Taiwanese members of the public and academics, foreign academics resident in Taiwan, and overseas Taiwanese working in US universities. There is a lack of consensus that Taiwan’s democracy is either dying in ashes or has become a phoenix rising from the ashes, nurtured into existence by civic groups and rational voters. There are narratives of extreme polarization and an alarming