by Tyler Jiang
As a country with 1.4 billion citizens, a modernizing military, and the second largest economy in the world, China is undoubtedly an important player on the world stage. After the Second World War, China rose from the ashes of poverty to become a 21st century superpower - a remarkable recovery. China’s growing power marks the first time the U.S. has faced a serious “peer competitor” since the Cold War, bringing great power politics back into play. [1] But is China’s rise necessarily a zero-sum game, where one nation benefits at the expense of another, for the United States?
Through globalization, China is closely tied to many nations. The health of the Beijing’s economy impacts the finances of its partner nations. As Chinese growth slows and demand drops, entities as diverse as copper mines in Latin America and car manufactures in Germany suffer. [2] A strong Chinese economy boosts the global economy. Instead of fearing China’s economic growth, the United States should work with China to achieve economic prosperity that will benefit all. Unfortunately, the incoming Trump administration views economic competition with China as an unfair competition. He has accused China of using underhanded trade tactics and manipulating its currency to make Chinese goods more competitive in the global market. These claims by Trump seem to resonate with many Americans, but doesn’t hold too much validity. In fact, Chinese government has worked hard to prop the renminbi up after the recent economic slowdowns, and without such efforts the renminbi would be even weaker than it is now and more competitive with the dollar. Should the Trump administration implement policy at the expense of Chinese trade, such as labeling China as a currency manipulator and levying tariffs on Chinese goods, the Trump Administration risks damaging the health of both nations’ economies.
As China’s economy grows, so does its military might. Instead of containing China’s growing military strength, the United States nurture the PLA, training it into a world class military.
Although a stronger PLA trained and mentored by the United States may one day turn against its teacher, the reality is if Beijing wants to modernize its military, it will do so regardless of what Washington desires. Even though China will likely avoid direct U.S. training, it may be receptive to cooperation and learning through joint military exercises, as seen in recent Russo-Chinese cooperation in the South China Sea. [3] The United States should conduct joint training exercises with the PLA in hopes of influencing Chinese leadership to ally with the U.S. on security issues that concern both nations, such as terrorism, piracy, and crimes against humanity. [4] These cooperative missions will allow not only the integration of both militaries for future operations, but also a boost in diplomatic relations as both powers work together to resolve global issues, allowing both hard and soft power to flourish.
China’s military rise could benefit all nations. As China gains influence, it has more confidence and means to participate in resolving international issues. In 2008, China deployed naval assets to the Gulf of Aden to participate in anti-piracy patrols. [5] To date, China has deployed 24 flotillas to the Gulf, an impressive feat that has aided in the decrease of pirate attacks off the Horn of Africa. [6] China has contributed a substantial force to UN Peacekeeping operations in Africa. In fact, it is the largest contributor out of the five permanent Security Council Members to peacekeeping missions, deploying more than 30,000 personnel across 24 missions. [7] A more engaged China committed to resolving international crises—with U.S. support and guidance—could provide political and military leverage to help end conflicts that the United States would like to see resolved, but is unwilling to physically enter to do so.
The United States has spent the past two decades as the world’s reigning hegemon. Facing a rising China, Washington has pursued a policy reminiscent of containment. Instead of striving to contain China, the U.S. ought to shape China into a responsible global actor who can contribute to global economic growth, peace in the Middle East, and infrastructure development in Africa and South America by pursuing a cooperative policy with Beijing.
Tyler Jiang is a junior at Rowan University studying International Studies and History, and is studying abroad at Tsinghua University in Beijing China for the Spring and Summer of 2017.
[1] John J. Mearsheimer, “Can China Rise Peacefully?,” The National Interest, (Oct 25, 2014). http://www.eastlaw.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Can-China-Rise-Peacefully_-_-The-National-Interest.pdf
[2] Kenneth Rapoza,” Just How Big is China’s Impact on the World Economy?,” Forbes, (April 14, 2016). http://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2016/04/14/just-how-big-is-chinas-impact-on-the-world-economy/#9e8ccab1cc1b
[3] Brad Lendon and Katie Hunt, “China, Russia begin joint exercises in South China Sea,” CNN, (Sep 12, 2016). http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/12/asia/china-russia-south-china-sea-exercises/
[4] Steven Metz, “Can the United States and China Cooperate on Counterterrorism?,” World Politics Review, (Sep 16, 2016). http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/19931/can-the-united-states-and-china-cooperate-on-counterterrorism
[5] BBC, “China begins anti-piracy mission,” BBC, (Dec 26, 2008). http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7799899.stm
[6] Ankit Panda, “3 Chinese Navy Ships Visit Vietnam’s Cam Ranh Bay,” The Diplomat, (Oct 24, 2016). http://thediplomat.com/2016/10/3-chinese-navy-ships-visit-vietnams-cam-ranh-bay/
[7] Ryan Pickrell, “China: Projecting Power Through Peacekeeping,” The Diplomat, (Oct 15, 2015). http://thediplomat.com/2015/10/china-projecting-power-through-peacekeeping/
