News about China is often distressing, if not downright infuriating. Consider two recent developments.
First came Beijing’s begrudging concession it had illegally obtained a powerful American-made supercomputer and installed it at a top-secret research institute developing weapons for the Chinese army.
Then U.S. law enforcement and national security officials told Senate investigators of evidence that China tried to influence elections in this country with illegal campaign contributions.
These revelations have fanned already widespread suspicions by the American people that China’s communist regime is much too sly to be trusted and has been playing the U.S. government for a fool.
This resentment will be felt as Congress considers rolling back legislation that made it easier for U.S. companies to export advanced technology to countries like China and Russia, where it could be misused to undermine U.S. interests.
Beyond that, these latest examples of rude and reckless behavior by Beijing will energize China critics who believe its miserable record on human rights, coupled with its alarming military buildup and willingness to sell arms to rogue states, should disqualify it from favorable treatment on trade.
But no matter how much anger and alarm China provokes, it would be folly to lose sight of the critical need for the U.S. to craft a stable relationship with this emerging world power and its 1.2 billion people. In fact, this may be the most serious foreign policy challenge confronting Washington today.
Unless the U.S. and China achieve mutual understanding and trust, the 21st Century could prove to be as poisoned with hostility and tension as the Cold War era from which the world has just emerged.
Continuing to engage China will accelerate economic reforms, such as the plan to privatize most state industries adopted by the 15th Communist Party Congress. Ultimately, it is hoped, engagement will prod the regime toward political liberalization as well.
To maintain support for engagement, Washington must strive to minimize the pitfalls that inevitably lie ahead. The best way: be frank, consistent and principled when dealing with China. But don’t isolate it.
If the American people hear their government unashamedly espousing the values this country stands for, then they will have greater confidence that the relationship with China is unfolding correctly.
Holding firm when disputes are relatively benign can keep them from sparking a crisis. This would also discourage Beijing from constantly testing the limits.
The late Sen. Henry Jackson once compared the Soviet regime to a petty thief trying hotel doors. When a door is unlocked, the thief slips in. But if it is firmly bolted, he quickly scurries on. The analogy also applies to folks running China.
