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China & U.S. Relations 1
China and United States Relations
Abstract
Within three months of the Trump Administration, Unites States (U.S.) and China relations have grown into a complex situation for numerous reason. Such as, China occupying a disputed territory, increase of military weapons and technology, North Korea testing nuclear weapons, and the trade deficit. However, this is not the first incident that the U.S and China had issues. These convoluted issues started during the Korean and Vietnam war and political controversial but relations have reconciled over the years with trade acts and political concordance. This topic is important because conflict between these two powerful nations may start a trade war, economies will be effected, the U.S. security maybe under threat and there maybe another World War.
Recently, the United States and China relations has grown in a strenuous relationship due to rising conflict such as, China occupying a disputed territory, increase of military weapons and technology, North Korea testing nuclear weapons, and the trade deficit. Between these two countries, this is not unfamiliar situation because in 1949, they both was in complex mix like the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Over the years these two countries was able reconcile their difference with Acts and political agreements. Will history repeat itself? Is China a National Security threat to the U.S.? Will these new issues create an estrange relationship between these two nations? Will China and U.S. reconcile their differences again? Is China trying to become the new world leader?
Brief History of China and US Relations
Since 1949, the U.S. and China relations have evolved over the years from a complex mix of intensifying diplomacy and growing international rivalry to an increasingly intertwined economies and political agreements. The Korean War started due to North Korean People’s Army invading South Korea, which prompted the U.S. and the United Nations (UN) to intervene. The Soviet and China, in support of the communist North, retaliates against the U.S., UN, and South Korean troops while they approach the Chinese border. The three-year conflict ended when the UN, China, North Korea, and South Korea signed the armistice agreement. In 1959, after nine years the People’s Republic of China asserts control over Tibet, a widespread uprising occurs, resulting to over a thousand-people dying. The U.S. joins the UN in condemning Beijing for human rights abuses. In October 1964, China joins the nuclear club and begin its first test of atomic bomb. The test comes amid of the U.S. and China tensions over the escalating conflict in Vietnam. China sends amassed of troops along its border between Vietnam. In February 1972, President Richard Nixon spends eight days in China to meet with Chairman Mao Zedong and signs the Shanghai Communique with Premier Zhou Enlai. Therefore, signaling improved U.S. and China relations that will allow these two nations to discuss conflict issues like Taiwan. In 1979, U.S. President Jimmy Carter grants China full diplomatic recognition by agreeing to China’s “One-China” policy and serving ties with Taiwan. The U.S. Congress approves the Taiwan Relations Act, which allows Taiwan to received defense arms, commercial, and cultural relations with the U.S. without violating the “One China” policy. U.S. President Bill Clinton signed the U.S.- China Relations Act of 2000, granting China permanent trade relations with the U.S. and paving the way for China to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001. In August 2005, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert B. Zoellick calls on China to serve as a responsible stakeholder and use its influence to draw nations such as Sudan, North Korea, and Iran into the international system and serve as a mediator between North Korea and the U.S.
China’s Disputed Territories
The disputed territories is situated between the East and South China Seas, which causes conflict between China and its neighbors, including Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippines. China has undertaken drastic measures to dredge and reclaim thousands of square feet of the South China Sea by constructing islands and infrastructure, such as runways, support building, loading piers, satellite communication antenna and military weapons. The two islands are called Paracel and Spratly Island, which has more than 2,900 acres combined since 2013. The territories is an area that is rich in hydrocarbon and natural gas and through trillions of dollars of global trade flow. On the Subi Reef and Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratlys, there are constructions of helipad, airstrips, piers, and radar surveillance structures. China’s artificial island and infrastructure are increasing its potential defense power capabilities in the region by testing missiles, conducting military training, and patrolling the surrounding area. This have fueled growing concerns over armed conflict and raised questions about U.S. security commitments in its strategic balance toward the Asia-Pacific region. Therefore, the U.S. deployed the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson to the disputed waters but China’s Foreign Ministry warned the U.S. against challenging its sovereignty and security. China also stated the deployment of the Vinson showed that the U.S. wants to create provocations and drive a wedge between China and other countries.
Taiwan
With China building the infrastructure and testing military weapons on the island, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen contacted President Trump with concerns of unauthorized occupancy and military exercise. Therefore, resulted in China to lodge a complaint against the U.S. to the Geneva Convention because the “US has adhered to the “One China” principle, which officially considers the independently governed island to be part of the same single Chinese nation as the mainland” (Tom Philips 3 Dec 2016). China has indicated that if the U.S continue to violate the “One China” policy and challenge its sovereignty and security, there would be a full-scale war against the U.S.
China’s New Military Weapons and Technology
China is investing in new military weapons and technology such as the DF-ZF, microwave weapons, and anti-satellite weaponry. “The Chinese DF-ZF Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV), dubbed WU-14, is a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile delivery vehicle designed to penetrate the United States ballistic missile defenses” (2016, Aug 22). The DF-ZF is capable of speeds between Mach 5 and Mach 10 at altitudes of up to 62 miles. The missile can perform precise strikes at low altitude and flat trajectory, which makes it difficult to detect and neutralize by conventional air and missile defense. The microwave weapon is small enough to fit on a lab work bench but powerful enough to annihilate enemy electronics even with a traditional shielding against electromagnetic pulse (EMP). This weapon system creates an energy pulse between 300 and 300,000 megahertz. This amount of directed energy overloads the electronic circuits, which cause it to shut down. This type of warfare could be used as a booby traps, ambushing, and disabling enemy vehicles and robots. At close ranges, it can be mounted on vehicles, warships, and even aircraft, to disable and distract missiles, small UAVs and even personal and vehicular electronics of hostile forces. The anti-satellite weaponry system (SC-19) is a ballistic missile, which is equipped with the KT-2 (a kinetic kill vehicle). “The KT-9 does not have an explosive warhead but destroys enemy satellites by colliding with them” (Kyle Mizokami 2016 Dec). The SC-19 is capable of reaching medium earth orbit, which can potential destroy the American GPS navigation satellites at risk. In 2015, China reduce their military personal by 300,000 to focused on the military reform process and adjust and optimize its scale and structure that troops are capable to fight in modern warfare. Currently, China has 2.3 million soldiers compared to the U.S. 2 million soldiers.
North Korea Nuclear
North Korea has successfully conducted five nuclear tests in 2006, 2009, 2013, in January and September 2016, and March 2017 and the yield of the bombs have increased each time. According to BBC news, “September 2016's test has indicated a device with an explosive yield of between 10 and 30 kilotonnes - which, if confirmed, would make it the North's strongest nuclear test ever” (BBC News 6 Jan 2017). North Korea had attempted to launch a missile near Kalma, which is on the country’s east coast, had failed within seconds of its launch. This recent launch tests, was a response of the South Korea and the United Sates annual military exercise The “Foal Eagle”, which began on the 1 March 2017 and end on 30 April 2017. According to the CNN interview with Robert Kelly, associate professor of political science at Pusan National University, stated “The North Koreans respond to (the drills) almost every year with some kind of out lash or provocation and to send a signal” (CNN 22 Mar 2017). North Korea also launched another test on 6 March 2017, which three ballistic missiles landed less than 200 nautical miles off the Japanese coast, antagonizing the South Korean and Japanese governments. CNN also reported that North Korea is speeding up their weapons program (CNN 22 Mar 2017).
Attempts of Disarmament Agreement
“The U.S., Russia, China, Japan, and South Korea engaged in the North in multiple rounds of negotiations known as six-party talks” (BBC News 6 Jan 2017). There were several attempts made to come up with a disarmament agreement deals with North Korea, for example in 2005, North Korea agreed to a landmark deal to give up its nuclear development in return for economic aid and political concessions. North Korea also destroyed their cooling tower at Yongbyon as part of the disarmament-for-aid deal in 2008. In 2009, the deal has failed to be carry through by North Korea. In 2012, North Korea agreed to suspend its nuclear development and missile tests in exchange for U.S. food aid. In March 2013, the UN has tightened sanctions against North Korea after their third nuclear tests, which provoked North Korea to restart all nuclear facilities in Yongbyon. Normal operations of nuclear and missile development have resumed in 2015 but the tests in 2016 have brought international condemnation. The Obama Administration issued a Strategic Patience Policy.
China’s Role in North Korea’s Nuclear Test
China serves as a mediator between the U.S. and North Korea, it’s also the trading partner and only ally to North Korea. The U.S Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met with China officials on the 18 March 2017 to discuss the solution to North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile program. China urged the U.S. to take a cool-headed approach before escalating a conflict with North Korea. The Trump Administration has revoke the Strategic Patience Policy and is taking a new approach by declaring that North Korea must give up its nuclear and missile development to have economic support and keep the peace, until then there are no other options but military action. Therefore, the U.S. will continue to conduct their military exercise with South Korea. China has vowed to work with the U.S. to make North Korea change course.
Trade Deficit
China owns $1 trillion of the U.S. $19.8 trillion-dollar debt. The reason why China owns this much of the U.S. debt is because of trade. “The US Treasuries are considered one of the safest investments in the world because the US Treasury does not default on its debt” (Gail Ablow 16 June 2016). Many countries like China are willingly to lend US the money, which allows U.S. citizens to buy consumer goods at a lower price. Therefore, the U.S. is in favor to have Foreign investors, especially during the recession period. If China demand a full payment plus interest, it would be a national security risks because China would be dictating U.S. policy on fiscal and monetary matters. If the economy was crashing in the U.S. without defaulting, China would get nothing in return. “The Pentagon did conduct an evaluation on the risks posed by China’s ownership of U.S. debt in July and came to the same conclusion: Attempting to use U.S. Treasury securities as a coercive tool would have limited effect and likely would do more harm to China than to the U.S.” (Forbes 23 Jan 2013). China wants the U.S. prosper that they will be able to export to the U.S.
Tariff War
China have the second biggest economy and the economy has grown because of the U.S. companies and consumer goods. President Trump has threatened to impose an import tax against China, which would mean higher consumer costs. Although, we live in a global trade society but President Trump wants the U.S. industry to bring the jobs back to the U.S. “An added tax on goods made in China could push multinational companies to re-evaluate whether their exposure to China makes sense, or if it is time to scale back operations” (CNBC 7 Dec 2016). China stated that they will retaliate if the U.S. starts a trade war. (US News 6 March 2017). If the U.S. put a tax on China imports and the U.S. economy goes into a recession without defaulting on the debt, China will be in a losing position because their economy will suffer, they will be out of money. The US will be able to sustain despite higher consumer goods.
Conclusion
The U.S. and China relations has always been a complex issue with escalating political differences and growing tension but resolved overtime for peace, economic interest, and political gains. As of today, the issues are rising between the U.S. and China such as China dredging the island in the middle of the South and East China Sea and raising concerns with neighbors like Taiwan, Japan, and other countries. Therefore, causing Taiwan to contact President Trump, which violates the “One China” policy. China testing military weapons on the island and not enforcing North Korea to stop its nuclear and missile development. China is has one of the biggest Army and has developed their military technology weapons and is one of the biggest growing economy in the world, which raises concerns with
Cited Sites
DF-ZF. (2016, August 22). Retrieved from
http://www.deagel.com/Warheads/DF-ZF_a002937001.aspx
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/03/china-donald-trumps-taiwan-phone-call-complaint-us
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-11813699
http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/21/asia/north-korea-missile-test/
http://billmoyers.com/story/chinese-debt-explained/
https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2017-03-06/the-casualties-of-a-us-china-trade-war
