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A choice no country should have to make

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A choice no country should have to make

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Since the 1980s, experts have predicted that the 21st century is the Asian century and China would emerge to take the lead. As the G2 was proposed during the global financial crisis of 2008-2009, the dream of "Asia first and the world second" seemed almost within reach.

China currently holds more than 3 trillion U.S. dollars in foreign reserves, while the U.S. economy remains sluggish. As a leading creditor, China should be more courageous and confident in dealing with the U.S., but in contrast it has acted passively on many occasions. When the U.S. proclaimed its high-profile return to the Asia-Pacific region, old and new friends embraced America's action. In contrast, the climate surrounding China's dealings with countries in its own backyard has been increasingly unfavorable.

At present, China's relations with Japan, India and ASEAN countries are slightly tense. At the same time, former close allies like the North Korea, Myanmar and Pakistan are opening up to the West.

The North Korea is the county which China assists the most. However, it no longer treats China as a close friend. Instead, it wants to build direct relations with the U.S. The two countries have signed a mutual non-aggression treaty and established trade connections.

Compared with China, no other big country spends so much on its allies but gains so little reward or respect. China has mediated and promoted talks between the North Korea and the U.S., but neither of the two nations has embraced these efforts. As Kim Jong-Un becomes the country's new leader, how much the DPRK will respect China has yet to be seen.

A former staunch ally to China, Myanmar has also changed its attitude towards the U.S. Last year, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton paid a historic visit to Myanmar and has promised a "small gift" of 1.2 million dollars to support Burmese reform. Since then, U.S.-Myanmar relations have developed at an amazing speed - the two countries restored respective diplomatic missions at the beginning of 2012.

It's a natural move for Myanmar and the U.S. to approach each other. Before that, Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was released in November 13, 2011. Myanmar's military government lifted controls on foreign websites and dissident radio stations and engaged in talks with Aung San Suu Kyi. Later, the Myanmar government stopped China from investing in its Myitsone hydropower project.

If this trend continues, Myanmar will finally sink into the West's arms and become an important pawn for the U.S.'s deployment to China's borders. China has been pursuing opportunities to build railways, gas and oil pipes in Myanmar. If Myanmar cozies up to the U.S., it will be a setback for China's energy strategy. Energy development in Myanmar remains the best solution for China to avoid conflict with the U.S. in Malacca.

There's no doubt that Pakistan is China's best friend. For this reason, Pakistan has also become a focal point for the U.S. defense strategy. Last December, NATO aircraft and helicopter gunships attacked two Pakistani border posts. Some believe the attack served as warning to China's neighbor countries to remind them who they should be friends with.

Claiming to be "Asia first", Japan increased investment in ASEAN countries but also has tried to contain China by strengthening the Japan-U.S. security alliance. Recently, to better monitor and take stricter precautions against China, it announced military plans involving Yonaguni.

India, another big country in Asia, hasn't backed down in the dragon and elephant fight. Border negotiations with China have carried on for many years without any compromise. Furthermore, in late 2011, the Indian media reported that the Indian government plans to recruit nearly 100,000 soldiers and deploy them to the Chinese border in the next five years.

Fear of China's rise among ASEAN countries continues to grow, and tension has been evident in recent friction with the Philippines, Vietnam and other countries. A growing unity against China among ASEAN nations has become increasingly evident.

Although China's tremendous economic growth has given it a comparative advantage over other Asian nations, it hasn't achieved the level of political influence Chinese leaders have hoped for. A Gallup poll suggested that although China achieved rapid development during the global economic slump, the U.S. remains a strong influence in Asia.

Last November, the U.S. announced its high-profile "Return to Asia" plan. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that the Asia-Pacific region will be the center of gravity of the U.S. diplomatic strategy in the future and the Asia-Pacific will become the world's strategic and economic center of gravity in the 21st century. U.S. President Barack Obama also said the U.S. will strengthen and maintain its long-term military presence in Asia-Pacific region.

One of the strategies for the U.S.'s return to Asia is to increase economic integration. For this reason, it re-introduced the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (TPP) to counter China's influence. In 2010, the GDP of TPP member countries accounted for 27.2 percent of the world. If Japan and Korea join the TPP, the area will become the world's largest free trade zone. With increased economic and trade cooperation, the U.S.'s influence in Southeast Asia will further develop into strategic cooperation. At that time, it will be able to affect the global political and military balance, thus strengthening U.S. influence in Asia.

Furthermore, the U.S. is carrying out its "Return to Asia" strategy in the military arena. It announced a new military strategy at the beginning of 2012 which aims to enhance its military presence in Asia, and counter "China's dominance in international waters in the South China Sea."

It's no longer a secret that the U.S. plans to strengthen its military presence in the Asia-Pacific. The U.S. intended to carry out the plan as early as the beginning of the 21st century; however it shifted gears following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Now seeing its largest competitor more powerful than a decade ago, it is trying to make up for its former lack of presence in Asia.

Ever since the Roman Empire, superpowers have tried to undermine potential competitors. In the face of these strategy adjustments, China should keep its cool. China and the U.S. remain interdependent. Their relations are both competitive and cooperative in political and economic aspects. In terms of military power, China still lags far behind America.

In addition to hard power, soft power also matters. The U.S. is able to use its universal values like freedom and democracy and Hollywood blockbusters to spread its influence abroad. It is able to use products like the iPad to make money. China has no such "Sunday punch." Nowadays, Asian countries have neither respect for Chinese culture nor recognition of Chinese values. Previously, they have engaged China mainly to look for trade opportunities. Once China's economic development slows, its attraction will disappear unless China is able to successfully win hearts through the purveyance of soft power.

The U.S. is never going to leave Asia. China and the U.S. must learn to live with each other at peace in the region. Meanwhile, China needs to find more ways to attract neighboring countries rather than simply trying to persuade its neighbors to weaken their ties to the U.S.

This post was first published in Chinese and translated by Li Huiru.

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.

A choice no country should have to make - China.org.cn
 
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In spite of China's large economy and military muscle, countries don't fear China as much as they fear US, moreover China talks more and do less. Even today relationship with US is much sought after. North Korea would not think twice to dump China given a chance to build a good relationship with US. May be I find India to be an exception. US is trying very hard to please India with goodies such as NSG, Weapons, SC seat etc.. and India is playing much harder.
 
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This is why we should triple our nuclear arsenal to 1000 megatons and triple military spending to 5% of GDP. Then fund an assassination on the fascist absolute monarch Kim Jong Un and replace him with a pro China democratic leader. Same with Myanmar, replace the pro US military junta with a pro China democracy. We have to learn from the US, as the article says.
 
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I don't know about Pakistan government but Pakistani people are very anti-american and pro-China.

Even though China is not an Islamic country, Pakistani people feel China is a better friend than even Muslim countries.

And you will never find this kind of reaction from Pakistani people towards China.
gty_pakistan_friendly_fire_dm_111222_wg.jpg




Pakistan and China have too much mutual interests. China and Pakistan should cooperate more.

:pakistan: :china:
 
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China should focus on improving relations with Japan -- everything else is secondary. If China and Japan can mend fences and form a joint alliance, the rest of Asia will be a piece of cake. Russia will leave Asia alone and focus on Europe. India will abandon the Far East and focus on the Middle East.
 
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Chinese people have the same warm feelings toward Pakistan. There is no doubt about it. As much as I serf the Chinese forums I personally have not yet come across any posts negative about Sino-Pakistani friendship. While I cannot guarantee that there has been none (It's impossible to read evrything), I can at least vouch for Chinese netizens' positive sentiment toward Pakistan. One phenomen worth noting is that the West, the US in particular, has in the past two decades been very active in cultivating its mouthpieces within China through its funding of so-called liberals and dissendents. In return for the funding these individuals and organizations espouse Western views with Chinese bylines.
 
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One phenomen worth noting is that the West, the US in particular, has in the past two decades been very active in cultivating its mouthpieces within China through its funding of so-called liberals and dissendents. In return for the funding these individuals and organizations espouse Western views with Chinese bylines.

The media is a potential Trojan horse. It's hard to know where free media ends and paid foreign subversive propaganda begins.
 
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I don't know about Pakistan government but Pakistani people are very anti-american and pro-China.

Even though China is not an Islamic country, Pakistani people feel China is a better friend than even Muslim countries.

And you will never find this kind of reaction from Pakistani people towards China.
gty_pakistan_friendly_fire_dm_111222_wg.jpg


Pakistani love China?





Pakistan and China have too much mutual interests. China and Pakistan should cooperate more.

:pakistan: :china:

Oh please, stop watching bollywood movies!

Give me stats of civilian cooperation between the 2 nations, that might prove this.
 
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China should focus on improving relations with Japan -- everything else is secondary. If China and Japan can mend fences and form a joint alliance, the rest of Asia will be a piece of cake. Russia will leave Asia alone and focus on Europe. India will abandon the Far East and focus on the Middle East.

that is not possible as japan is a US occupied territory, their foreign policy echoes the united states interest. and it is the interest of the united states to contain china no matter what. as long as US is occupying japan, there will never be peace between them and us- the US will simply not allow it.
 
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China should focus on improving relations with Japan -- everything else is secondary. If China and Japan can mend fences and form a joint alliance, the rest of Asia will be a piece of cake. Russia will leave Asia alone and focus on Europe. India will abandon the Far East and focus on the Middle East.

Japan still doesn't apologize for the crimes it committed in World War II. I don't think China can in good conscience improve relations with Japan until it apologizes.
 
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Japan still doesn't apologize for the crimes it committed in World War II. I don't think China can in good conscience improve relations with Japan until it apologizes.

^ that too.

japan is extremely nationalistic. they honor their war criminals. it would be like german's today honoring what the nazi's did to the jews.
 
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We should not focus on improving relations with anyone except those who have a proven track record of wanting cooperation with us.

Let them come to us instead. Americans hate Mexicans yet Mexicans love Americans, go figure right?
 
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I didn't say it was easy, but Japan is clearly the country with the greatest ROI for Chinese investment in soft power. Look at America: they dropped two nuclear bombs on Japan and yet the Japanese worship the Americans. Now that's a triumph of American soft power!
 
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China should stop claiming territories of other countries based on some obscure historical proof that those areas once belonged to some Chinese kingdom.

Can you imagine Mongolians claiming most of China because once upon a time they ruled over the Chinese territory? Thats how silly the Chinese claims are.

This hegemonic greedy approach has earned China nothing but enemies and pushed countries towards America. Most of the allies of China are the pariah states of the world, or the friendship with China turns these countries into pariah state.
 
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