US, China Warplanes Collision

 1999 , 2000 

[ News ] [ Papers ]

Bush Formally Gives China Normal Trading Relations
(Reuters, Dec. 28, 2001) Taking the final step to normalize U.S.-Chinese trade ties, President Bush on Thursday formally granted China the same low-tariff levels the United States extends to nearly all other nations. The White House said Bush had signed a proclamation giving China ``permanent normal trading relations'' as of Jan. 1, 2002.

China Fumes Over U.S. Missile Test
(Reuters, Dec. 4, 2001) China said it remained staunchly opposed to plans by Washington to develop a national missile defense system after the United States tested its controversial missile defense shield.

US Carrier's Port Call Signals China's Support for Terrorist War
(AFP, Nov. 24, 2001) Beijing has given approval for a US aircraft carrier to make a port call in Hong Kong on its way to the Arabian Sea, in what analysts say is the clearest sign yet of China's support for the US-led war on terrorism.

Progress in US-China Ties Limited Since Sept 11: MAC
(CNA, Nov. 20, 2001) In improvement in relations between the United States and mainland China has remained limited since the September11 terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, according to a Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) study released.

No War Dividend for China: Powell
(AFP, Oct. 26, 2001) US criticism of Beijing 'will not be muted' in exchange for supporting anti-terror measures. US Secretary of State Colin Powell warned yesterday China should expect no political pay-off, in the form of diluted criticism of its human rights record, for its co-operation with the war on terrorism.

Summit Improves Sino-US Relations
(China Daily, Oct. 21, 2001) President Jiang Zemin and US President George W. Bush's Friday summit meeting will energize bilateral ties, despite the fact that the two still have a long way to go in smoothing out their differences. "Bush's reaffirming of the one-China policy is an encouraging sign of improvement from his pledge months ago that the US would do 'whatever it takes' to defend Taiwan," said Chu Shulong.

U.S., China Agree on Little But Need to Fight Terrorism
(WP, Oct. 20, 2001) President Bush and Chinese President Jiang Zemin made very little progress toward resolving any of the long-standing differences between their nations during talks, yet both leaders announced a new "constructive and cooperative" relationship based on their common interest in fighting terrorism.

Bush and Jiang United on Terrorism
(BBC, Oct. 19, 2001) President George W Bush has said the US and China have a "common understanding" of the threat posed by international terrorists. Mr Bush said he was satisfied with the level of Chinese co-operation in the battle against Osama Bin Laden.

For Bush and Jiang, Questions of Risk and Reward
(WP Foreign, Oct. 18, 2001) In a face-to-face meeting here, President Bush will get his first chance to size up President Jiang Zemin, whose intentions toward the United States have been a subject of intense debate within the Bush administration, and whose support could be important to the U.S.-led campaign against terrorism.

U.S. Denies Report It Plans to Ease China Sanctions
(Reuters, Oct. 18, 2001) The White House denied a newspaper report that it was considering resuming sales to China of spare parts for a military helicopter as it seeks international help to fight terrorism.

U.S. May Waive China Sanctions
(Washington Post, Oct. 17, 2001) The Bush administration, seeking to promote exchanges of anti-terrorist intelligence with China, is considering a waiver on sanctions that bar the sale of military-related equipment to Chinese security forces. The U.S. move on the sanctions would clear the way for the sale of spare parts for Black Hawk helicopters the United States sold to China during the 1980s.

US, China Fail to Resolve Pakistan Missile Dispute
(Reuters, Oct. 12, 2001) The United States and China have failed to resolve a dispute over Beijing's alleged missile technology transfers to Pakistan, making it unlikely U.S. sanctions will be lifted in time for a U.S.-China leaders' meeting later this month.

Powell Assures Taipei There's No Deal with China
(TT, Sep. 23, 2001) US Secretary of State Colin Powell has denied reports that Washington and Beijing are working on a deal under which China will aid in America's war on terrorism in exchange for a reduced US commitment to Taiwan. "There was no suggestion of a quid pro quo," Powell said.

China Hails Talks with U.S. on Military Maritime Safety
(Reuters, Sep. 16, 2001) In a new sign the U.S. and Chinese militaries are working to rebuild a relationship frayed by a spy plane incident, Beijing hailed as "positive, pragmatic and frank" two days of talks on military maritime safety. The talks in the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam marked the first steps towards reopening a military dialogue.

China Offers to Join Global War on Terrorism
(Reuters, Sep. 13, 20010 In a phone call with U.S. President George W. Bush, Chinese President Jiang Zemin offered to join an international war on terrorism. But analysts said cooperation between China and the United States on terrorism raised a host of tricky political questions.

White House Denies Shift in China Policy
(AFP, Sep. 3, 2001) The White House played down reports Sunday of a change in policy toward China, saying planned discussions with Beijing were merely an effort to win support for President George W. Bush's proposed missile defense shield -- a key foreign policy goal.

U.S. to Tell China It Will Not Object to Missile Buildup
(NYT, Sep. 2, 2001) The Bush administration, seeking to overcome Chinese opposition to its missile defense program, intends to tell leaders in Beijing that it has no objections to the country's plans to build up its small fleet of nuclear missiles.

Chinese Arms Firm Faces U.S. Sanctions
(WP, Sep. 1, 2001) The Bush administration will impose sanctions n a major Chinese arms manufacturer because it transferred sensitive missile technology to Pakistan despite assurances by Beijing last year that it would refrain from these exports. The new American measures could further sour relations between the United States and China.

U.S., China Begin Missile Talks in Beijing
(Reuters, Aug. 23, 2001) U.S. arms experts started talks in Beijing on Thursday on allegations that China violated a pledge not to spread ballistic missile technology, the U.S. embassy said. Washington has highlighted missile proliferation as one of the top issues as the United States and China rebuild ties after clashes over defense and human rights in the first half of 2001.

U.S. Port Call to HK Marks Return to Routine
(Los Angeles Times, Aug. 21, 2001) The Navy aircraft carrier Constellation and six other American warships begin a five-day visit here Monday in the latest sign of easing U.S.-PRC relations.

U.S. Talks Tough on Missile Exports, Technology
(AP, Aug. 7, 2001) The State Department promised on Monday to impose sanctions against Chinese companies that export missiles and missile technology in violation of U.S. law. Spokesman Richard Boucher made the statement following a report that a state-run Chinese company has sent a dozen shipments of missile components to Pakistan.

Powell Says China Eases Pursuit of U.S. Jets
(WP, July 30, 2001) Secretary of State Colin L. Powell said today that Chinese pilots have stopped the aggressive pursuit tactics blamed for the collision April 1 between a Chinese fighter jet and a U.S. Navy surveillance plane off the Chinese coast. Powell left Beijing today after a one-day visit during which both countries worked to ease lingering tensions caused by the collision.

Chinese Unswayed as Powell Pushes U.S. Missile Shield
(New York Times, July 29, 2001) Secretary of State Colin L. Powell ended his first meeting with China's leaders today sounding upbeat and saying the two sides would talk more about human rights and weapons sales. But he made little headway in overcoming opposition to the Bush administration's plans for a missile shield.

U.S.. Protests Exports Of Missiles by China
(Washington Post, July 27, 2001) The United States has formally protested to China about continued exports of missiles and related technology to Pakistan and other countries despite a pledge last year to halt the trade. China has denied that it is selling the weapons, but so far has not responded to U.S. complaints and requests for clarifications from the Foreign Ministry.

China Allows US Warships to Dock
(AP, July 9, 2001) Beijing has granted permission for a pair of American warships to make port calls in Hong Kong, only a month after it refused permission for a similar visit. The permission came just two days after the dismantled pieces of a US spy plane were flown out of China. Beijing's decision would appear to indicate a lessening of the tensions that flared over the spy plane crisis.

US-China Military Ties Remain Limited - Pentagon
(Reuters, July 4, 2001) The United States is unlikely to quickly expand limited military ties with China despite Beijing's release of a damaged U.S. Navy reconnaissance plane on Tuesday, a Pentagon spokesman said.

U.S. Decides To Stay Neutral On Beijing's Olympics Bid
(WP, June 25, 2001) The Bush administration has decided to remain neutral on Beijing's bid to host the 2008 Olympics, despite powerful appeals from members of Congress to oppose Beijing's bid on human rights grounds. The administration hopes that its neutral position will help defuse an issue that China has called an emotional one for its people.

US, China in Mine Hunt Exercises
(AP, June 13, 2001) The U.S. warship USS Inchon sailed out of Singapore for mine hunting exercises with sailors from 15 other nations, including China, which recently rejected Washington's request to allow the USS Inchon to enter Hong Kong. Sailors from 16 Pacific nations started the exercises Tuesday in the inaugural mine hunting and diving exercise led by host Singapore.

American Majority Believes China a 'Serious Problem'
(Reuters, June 12, 2001) Most Americans see China as a serious problem for US foreign policy while about one in five view Beijing as an adversary, according to a Council on Foreign Relations survey.

Rumsfeld Approves Limited China Contacts
(AP, June 5, 2001) Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said he has given a limited go-ahead to resume military-to-military contacts with China now that the spy plane incident is being resolved.

Rumsfeld Limiting Military Contacts With the Chinese
(NYT, June 4, 2001) Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld has cut off virtually all of the Pentagon's contacts with the Chinese armed forces in a move that is prompting concern among China experts within the United States military establishment.The Pentagon says that it is conducting a case-by-case review of seminars, visits and other contacts with China and that no sweeping decisions have been made.

Bush Plans to Prolong Trade Benefits for China
(NYT, May 30, 2001) President Bush said that he would ask Congress to extend China's "normal" trade status with the United States for one more year. Such a stop-gap measure was made necessary because Beijing, having won such status from Congress last year as a step toward entry in the World Trade Organization, is delaying its application.

China Bars U.S. Warship From Visiting Hong Kong
(Reuters, May 29, 2001) China has refused permission for a U.S. warship to visit Hong Kong, the first denial since a mid-air collision between an American spy plane and a Chinese fighter jet off the south China coast on April 1. "China informed the consulate on May 15 that it has denied a request for the USS Inchon to visit Hong Kong from June 28 to July 3," said U.S. consulate spokeswoman Barbara Zigli.

US Wants to Involve China in Boosting Asia Security
(Reuters, May 18, 2001) The United States, its military contacts with China disrupted by the spy plane crisis, is keen to involve Beijing in its efforts to boost security in Asia, the U.S. military commander in the region said. " We hope, when the crisis is over and the plane is returned, we return to a situation in which we do have contact with PLA (People's Liberation Army)."

US Defends Review of Beijing Ties
(Reuters, May 7, 2001) US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice said relations with China were not business as usual and defended Washington's review of its contacts with Beijing following the recent stand-off over the collision of a US spy plane and a Chinese fighter jet.

U.S. Widens Look at China Contacts
(Washington Post, May 5, 2001) The U.S. government's review of its contacts with China extends beyond the military to the State Department and other civilian agencies, Bush administration officials said.

Pentagon Confusion Over China Contacts
(New York Times, May 3, 2001) The office of Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld ordered the suspension of military exchanges and contacts with the Chinese armed forces and then abruptly reversed the order today after the White House objected, Pentagon officials said.

U.S. to Limit Military Ties With China - Pentagon Suspension Is Announced, Then Recanted
(Washington Post, May 3, 2001) In a day of contradictory statements, the Pentagon at first said it was suspending all contacts between the two militaries, which have included reciprocal visits by warships to U.S. and Chinese ports, nearly annual trips by senior officers and lower-level exchanges in such fields as military medicine.

Beijing Blocks U.S. Attempt to Debate China Rights Record
(New York Times, Apr. 18, 2001) China, backed by Russia and major Asian, African and Arab countries, succeeded today in striking off the agenda of the United Nations Human Rights Commission an American resolution calling attention to Beijing's rights record. Today China mustered 23 votes in the 53-nation commission to kill debate before it could begin.

Mainland's Arms Exports Still a Concern: US Nominee
(South China Morning Post, Mar. 31, 2001) The man tipped to head American arms control efforts yesterday raised fresh concerns over China's commitment to weapons export agreements, warning of extensive US scrutiny ahead. John Bolton, nominated by President George W. Bush as Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, told a Senate committee that China poses "unique challenges".

U.S. General Urges China Pacific Cooperation
(Reuters, Mar. 27, 2001) The United States needs to pursue cooperation with China in order to prevent the Pacific Rim from becoming a setting for the next cold war, the top U.S. military chief said.

Bush Hopes for Good China Relations But Stands Firm on Taiwan, Religion
(AFP, Mar. 23, 2001) President George W. Bush looked Vice Premier Qian Qichen in the eye and said he wanted good relations with China, despite a testy dialogue with Beijing in the first two months of his administration.

Senior Chinese Military Officer Defects to U.S.
(Washington Post, Mar. 23, 2001) A senior colonel in the People's Liberation Army defected to the United States while visiting as part of a delegation of Chinese officers, sources reported this week. One Chinese source described it as a "grave incident" between Beijing and Washington. Chinese sources could not immediately provide the officer's name.

US Pacific Fleet Command Ship Arrives in Shanghai
(AP, Mar. 23, 2001) With military bands playing, the US 7th Fleet's command ship docked in Shanghai on Friday for a three-day port call amid tensions over possible US arms sales to Taiwan. The guided missile cruiser USS Blue Ridge is making its third visit to China under a program of military exchanges that has come under renewed scrutiny from new US President George W. Bush's administration. T

Bush Is Due to Meet Chinese on Crucial Issues
(New York Times, Mar. 19, 2001) As President Bush prepares for his first meeting with a senior Chinese official, his administration faces two military decisions that could put the United States on a collision course with China while the Bush administration is barely under way.

Washington to Monitor Beijing's Military Buildup Carefully
(CNA, Mar. 7, 2001) The United States said that while a big increase in mainland China's defense budget is not necessarily a destabilizing factor, Washington will watch the build-up and its implications for Taiwan carefully. "We will be watching their buildup carefully, see how they spend this money," Powell told reporters.

China Cautions U.S. on Taiwan
(AP, Feb. 28, 2001) A top Chinese official cautioned the Bush administration Wednesday to avoid weapons sales to Taiwan, warning that an ``explosive'' situation could develop.

U.S. to Protest China's Aid on Iraq's Anti-Aircraft System
(Washington Post, Feb. 21, 2001) The Bush administration plans to protest to Beijing about China's assistance with Iraqi anti-aircraft systems and to urge China to abide by the United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding sanctions on Iraq.

China Tells Germany the World Should Be a "Multi-Polar" One
(AFP, Feb. 20, 2001) Chinese President Jiang Zemin told visiting German Defence Minister Rudolf Scharping Tuesday that China advocates building a multi-polar world and was strongly against a world dominated by the United States.

U.S. Insists China Policy is Unchanged
(AFP, Jan. 26, 2001) The new U.S. administration of George W. Bush has not changed policy toward China, a spokesman said Thursday as a row raged with Beijing over its crackdown on the Falun Gong spiritual group.

China Decries US Falun Gong Comments
(AP, Jan. 25, 2001) In its first quarrel with the Bush administration, China rebuked the United States on Thursday for condemning its crackdown on the outlawed Falun Gong spiritual movement and warned that such criticism could harm relations. The testy comments came amid intense security in Beijing to thwart Falun Gong protests, and a few hours after Secretary of State Colin Powell told China's ambassador in Washington to respect civil liberties.

China's Comeback Year By Rupert Wingfield-Hayes
(BBC, Dec. 30, 2001) Twelve months ago, relations between the United States and China looked set for some rough times. President Bush capped off the year by granting China permanent normal trade status with Washington. Mr Bush hailed the move as the final step in normalising US-China relations, a far cry from the White House rhetoric at the beginning of the year.

US and China Unite Over Taliban By Thomas Withington
(Institute for War and Peace Reporting, Dec. 7, 2001) Washington's war against the Taliban and the al-Qaeda network is believed to have helped to ease tensions with China which has long accused the student militia of fomenting separatism in the west of the country. Despite these apparent improvements, China and the United States are still at loggerheads over Taiwan.

Is China the Odd Man Out? By Ralph Cossa
(Japan Times, Nov. 1, 2001) China seems very pleased with the outcome of the George W. Bush-Jiang Zemin presidential summit held Oct. 19 in Shanghai on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders' meeting -- not because a great deal was accomplished, but because Jiang's definition of what constituted a "successful" meeting was extremely modest.

China-U.S. Relations: Terror Throws Us Together, For Now By Michael Vatikiotis, Ben Dolven and David Murphy
(Far Eastern Economic Review, Nov. 1, 2001) At their first summit the leaders of China and the United States began building a better relationship that can only benefit business. To deliver real rewards for both China's economy and foreign investors, it needs to last longer than U.S. retaliation in Afghanistan.

Hegemon on the Offensive: Chinese Perspectives on U.S. Global Strategy By Yong Deng
(Political Science Quarterly, Oct. 24, 2001) Conflict between the United States and China is structural and has been on the rise. The author believes there is a real danger of an escalation of balancing and counterbalancing unless a mechanism of peaceful change is devised. (PDF file) 

Can 9-11 Provide a Fresh Start for Sino-U.S. Relations? By Phillip Saunders
(Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Monterey Institute of International Studies, Oct. 23, 2001) Sino-U.S. cooperation in fighting terrorism faces some limits. One U.S. concern is China's tendency to equate separatism with terrorism, regardless of whether separatist groups use political means or terrorist attacks.

Chance for New U.S.-China Strategic Tie By Ralph Cossa
(Japan Times, Oct. 20, 2001) The opportunity exists for U.S. President George W. Bush and Chinese President Jiang Zemin to lay the foundation for a new, constructive strategic relationship when both leaders meet on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders' Meeting in Shanghai this weekend. Their common concern about international terrorism provides a basis for cooperation.

Smooth Sailing Now, but Don't Be Sure It Will Last By Harry Harding
(International Herald Tribune, Oct. 18, 2001) The struggle against terrorism has presented China with both short-run opportunities and long-term uncertainties. China's leaders have seized the opportunities by expressing a surprising degree of support for the United States. But if the evolution of the American struggle against terrorism begins to threaten longer-term Chinese interests, Beijing's support will start to flag.

Bush to Cement China Alliance in War on Terror By Jeremy Page
(Reuters, Oct. 18, 2001) Just six months ago, China and the United States appeared to be teetering on the brink of a new Cold War. Now they are allies in a war against terrorism. The joint fight against terrorism will dominate U.S. President George W. Bush's discussions with Chinese leaders when he arrives on Thursday for a Pacific Rim summit.

Common Interests in a Hazardous World By David Shambaugh and Robert S. Litwak
(New York Times, Oct. 17, 2001) President Bush's trip to China tomorrow to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit meeting may mark a qualitatively new and more mature phase in relations between the two countries. The current campaign against global terrorism offers the opportunity to improve a relationship that has been plagued by difficulties.

Anti-Terrorism Helps Mainland China Rise, But...
(Editorial, China Post, Oct. 16, 2001) For the Beijing regime, the new world is certainly a much more comfortable and forgiving place than the old one, as the biggest communist dictatorship struggles to integrate with the world. However, partnership on counterterrorism is inevitable but not permanent.

America and China Can Go Further By Mike Jendrzejczyk
(International Herald Tribune, Oct. 12, 2001) Mr. Bush should explain the U.S. interest in seeing China's reforms continue and expand, while encouraging greater adherence to international norms. He should emphasize that he has no interest in imposing U.S. "values" or the American political system on China.

A Fateful Meeting for US-China Relations By Lee Kuan Yew
(Straits Times, Oct. 4, 2001) US Presidnet George W. Bush has met the world's major leaders from Nato, Japan, South Korea and Russia. But his encounter with Chinese President Jiang Zemin in Shanghai later this month will be of great significance.

China's Support for U.S. on Terror Is a Dramatic About-Face By Erik Eckholm
(New York Times, Sep. 30, 2001) Despite a history of condemning American incursions abroad and a chronic fear of encirclement by the West, the Chinese government has expressed strong support for the new American war on terrorism. But the Chinese leaders also see an opportunity in the current crisis to meet a broader goal: to forge an improvement in overall relations with the United States and other Western countries.

Chance for Bush to Recast China Ties By James Goodby and Kenneth Weisbrode
(International Herald Tribune, Sep. 22, 2001) As President George W. Bush prepares for his first official trip to Asia next month, he will have an opportunity to put relations between the United States and China on a new footing. Last week's attacks have made this even more necessary by highlighting the two countries' common interest in combating terrorism and the need for strong cooperation with the most populous and potentially the most powerful nation in Asia.

Whom, If Not China, Is US Aircraft Carriers' Moving onto South China Sea Directed Against?
(People's Daily, Aug. 27, 2001) From August 20 to 25, a group of US Constellation aircraft carriers paid a port visit to Hong Kong. However, just three days before they arrived in Hong Kong, the Constellation aircraft carriers held a one-day large-scale joint military exercise in the South China Sea together with the Carl Vinson which replaced them to go to cruise the Gulf region.

The Bush Administration's China Policy By Kenneth Lieberthal
(Nixon Center, July 26, 2001) While the Bush Administration’s handling of U.S.-China affairs began awkwardly, it seems to have stabilized. Nevertheless, it is too early to determine what sort of integrated China policy will finally emerge from the administration. China seems to be focusing on domestic issues and, accordingly, appears to be going out of its way to avoid souring relations with the United States.

Sino-US Relations Get A Boost... By Pei Minxin
(Straits Times, Aug. 1, 2001) ALL except for the most hardened hawks in Washington and Beijing must be pleased with American Secretary of State Colin Powell's visit to the Chinese capital last weekend. The most notable achievement was an evident improvement in the tone set by the top leaders of both countries in characterising the nature of mutual ties.

China's Need for U.S. Trade May Be Outweighing Disagreements With Bush Administration By Erik Eckholm
(New York Times, July 30, 2001) In recent meetings of all kinds, diplomats say, Chinese officials have suddenly sounded more accommodating - or more willing to talk seriously, at least - about sensitive subjects like sales of missile technology, human rights and America's plans for a missile defense. But the new Chinese warmth, Chinese and Western experts say, reflects basic perceptions among the leaders here of their long-term interests and those of the ruling Communist Party.

Powell Expresses Shift in U.S. View of China By Elaine Monaghan
(Reuters, July 30, 2001) China has graduated from "strategic competitor" of the United States to a friend who needs tough love, if U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell's remarks after a visit to Beijing are anything to go by. His confirmation to reporters Sunday that he had dropped the phrase "strategic competitor", adopted by President George W. Bush during his election campaign, put into words a shift in the U.S. view of the communist giant.

China's Challenge to Pax Americana By Evan A. Feigenbaum
(The Washington Quarterly, Summer 2001) Since Beijing's 1996 missile exercise in the Taiwan Strait, Chinese leaders have begun to articulate a decidedly alternative vision of the underlying principles of international relations that could continue to create tensions with the United States.

Don't Antagonize China By Samuel R. Berger
(Washington Post, July 8, 2001) President Bush's telephone conversation last week with Chinese President Jiang Zemin -- a talk that included the issue of Chinese American detainees -- is, one would hope, the beginning of an effort to stabilize the relationship of the two countries based on a policy of principled engagement. The past six months of tough posturing on China by the administration have not been without cost.

Sino-US Relations: New Cold War Avoidable
(Editorial, People's Daily, July 3, 2001) An aggravated relationship with China was in the short-term interest of a few right-wingers and arms dealers but against long-term and fundamental US national interests. Therefore, unless it makes some most severe strategical mistakes, the US Government will sooner or later turn back from the anti-China policy.

What's the Rationale for Seeing China as Enemy? By William Pfaff
(International Herald Tribune, July 2, 2001) Since January the military estimations and foreign policy speculations of the vice president and the secretary of defense, and their principal advisers, have been consistently framed in terms of eventual conflict, if not war, with China. Self-fulfilling prophecy? If China is treated as an enemy, it will become one.

China Growing Uneasy About U.S. Relations By John Pomfret
(Washington Post, June 23, 2001) China's leaders are increasingly concerned that Washington and Beijing are headed for a confrontation as China emerges as an economic and military power in Asia, and the United States ponders how to deal with its rise. In recent interviews, officials and analysts described growing unease in Beijing that shifts in attitudes in both nations seem to be pointing toward a showdown

Modest Support for Missile Defense, No Panic on China
(Council on Foreign Relations, June 2001) The latest nationwide poll by the Pew Research Center, which was conducted in collaboration with the Council on Foreign Relations, finds modest support for Bush's proposed missile defense system. While a slim majority of Americans see China as a major threat, it is a threat that few want the United States to confront. The public generally wants to pursue a course of moderation when dealing with the world's most populous nation, and this position crosses partisan lines.

China Viewed Narrowly
(Editorial, New York Times, June 10, 2001) Although the Bush administration has yet to articulate a fully formed China policy, there are unsettling indications that it may be inclined to see China primarily as an emerging military threat. The United States cannot ignore the possibility that China will grow into a global military power in the decades ahead, but Washington's handling of Beijing ought not to exaggerate the threat.

Casting China as America's Enemy Is a Bad Idea By John W. Lewis
(International Herald Tribune, June 4, 2001) In reorienting American foreign and defense policy, the Bush administration is in danger of replacing a workable China policy with an unstable and unworkable one. Mr. Bush's strategic policy is based on a serious internal contradiction. One premise maintains that China is a rising power whose interests and objectives conflict with America's and whose ambitions require immediate and long-term containment. Yet the policy also presumes that China is unable to meet a forceful American challenge.

U.S.-China Ties Still Strong By Pauline Jelinek
(Associated Press, May 31, 2001) In spite of the recent chill between Washington and Beijing over the April spy plane standoff and other issues, life goes on for tens of thousands of Americans and Chinese bound together by commerce, immigration and a host of people-to-people ventures. "But the Chinese people's biggest problem is the American government, not the American people."

China Fears Repeat of Reagan Strategy By Ching Cheong
(Straits Times, May 22, 2001) The recent downturn in Sino-American relations has made the Chinese refocus their attention on US policies that led to the downfall of the former Soviet Union. This is because they find stark similarities in the policies of US President George W. Bush towards China and former President Ronald Reagan towards Russia.

Courting The People of China By Ezra F. Vogel
(Washington Post, May 14, 2001) China is unlikely to challenge the world's preeminent military, but to exercise global leadership in the new democratic era in East Asia, we need the support of the East Asian public. The United States can have a realistic combination of cooperation and competition, but for it to work, we need to find a way to get the positive cooperation of the Chinese public.

U.S. Needs to Learn That China Policy Is Not a Two-Bit Affair By Jonathan Clarke
(International Herald Tribune, May 11, 2001) Recent missteps in Washington and willful unhelpfulness from Beijing show that the US search for an effective way of dealing with China will not be straight- forward. Nonetheless, there is no more pressing task for US diplomacy than to turn back the growing consciousness in both capitals that confrontation is inevitable. A US-Chinese relationship that becomes unhinged would portend global disaster. A good starting point for all involved is to be aware of the stakes involved. Whatever China is, it is not 'two-bit'.

We Have Seen the Enemy, and It Is China By John Gershman
(Foreign Policy in Focus, May, 2001) There are several main dangers with the new congagement approach. First, managing the tensions within the strategy prove impossible and the strategy effectively becomes containment. Through a self-fulfilling prophecy, U.S. strategic doctrine creates the enemy for which it was designed. This reinforces hard-liners within China and launches a vicious circle of arms races, increasing tension, and decreasing security.

American and Chinese Strategists Ought to Sit Down and Talk By Philip C. Saunders and Evan S. Medeiros
(International herald Tribune, May 4, 2001) Missile defense raises even more troubling implications for Chinese-U.S. relations.. U.S. policymakers see it as an insurance policy in case deterrence fails, which they view as a real possibility. In contrast, China believes that it is structured to negate its relatively small nuclear forces. Beijing sees missile defense as part of a political strategy to contain China's rise.

The Inescapable Ambiguity By David Shambaugh
(Asiaweek, Apr. 20, 2001) China and the U.S. share a network of cooperation — and competition. For the U.S., engagement with China cannot be turned up, down, on or off at the whim of an administration. The two nations experience an array of cultural, societal, educational, scientific, commercial, and other ties that bind them together in countless human interactions. However, real and fundamental disagreements do exist between Beijing and Washington — over Taiwan's security and the military role of Japan and America in East Asia.

What We Said, What They Said, What's Unsaid By Robert G. Kaiser
(Washington Post, Apr. 15, 2001) So we've gotten through 30 years, but haven't yet solved the underlying problems. We've used linguistic tricks and other devices to preserve a deeply ambiguous relationship with China -- not a friendly relationship, but not a hostile one, either. In some respects -- because Taiwan has become a thriving democracy, China has become more belligerent, and the Chinese and American economies have become dependent on each other -- those problems look more complicated today than previously.

U.S. Policy Toward China: Try for the Best, Prepare for the Worst By Avery Goldstein
(Foreign Policy Research Institute, Apr. 13, 2001) Despite some missteps, the Clinton administration's track record in the Asia-Pacific was on balance impressive. Over the past eight years several of the most difficult questions about the U.S. role in Asia at the end of the Cold War have been answered. Absent a superpower rival, would the U.S. retrench and leave Asia to the Asians? Would the U.S. maintain regional commitments that had been fashioned to contain the now-defunct Soviet bloc, or would the network of bilateral alliances be allowed to languish?

Scenarios for the Future of United States-China Relations 2001 -2010 (PDF file)
(Nautilus Institute for Security and Sustainable Development, April 2001) Generated via a highly interactive collaboration between Chinese and American analysts, four distinctly different scenarios point toward the need for a consistent and constructive US policy towards China. Report of a Workshop.

Sino-American Strategic Competition: Implications for Conflict in the Taiwan Strait By Martin L. Lasater
(Taiwan Security Research, April 2001) The United States and China are engaged in strategic competition for predominant power in the Asian Pacific. The PRC wants the United States to redraw its sphere of influence in the Western Pacific to give China more breathing room for its own expansion of influence. Taiwan is critical to the PRC strategic design and thus unification has become a more pressing issue for Beijing. As China becomes stronger, the risks to the United States in defending Taiwan and in playing the role of regional peacemaker will increase substantially.. However, in view of the PRC’s strategic challenge, a U.S. retreat from Taiwan’s defense would be widely interpreted as Washington’s acceptance of China’s preeminence in East Asia.

A Partnership Worth Preserving By Jiemian Yang
(New York Times, Mar. 21, 2001) Since Mr. Qian is the Beijing official overseeing Taiwan affairs, the Taiwan issue is likely to be central to the discussion tomorrow. Last August Mr. Qian significantly redefined the "one- China" concept in a pragmatic way that was not given sufficient attention in the United States. He announced that one China includes both the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, a modification from the previous statement of Taiwan being a part of China only. This formulation allows considerably more flexibility in easing cross-strait tensions.

China's Game of Chicken By Robert Kagan
(Washington Post, Mar. 12, 2001) During the past two weeks, Chinese leaders suddenly have adopted a bullying stance in their dealings with President Bush. Last month, for instance, Bush diplomatically asked the Chinese to "investigate" the matter of Chinese military assistance to Iraq, saying he wanted to begin his relationship with Beijing "with trust." Privately, Chinese officials have admitted it. But publicly the Chinese foreign minister last week told Bush, undiplomatically, to stuff it. He denied any Chinese involvement in Iraq and all but accused Bush of fabricating the story.

Supporting Political Liberalization in China: The Role of the United States By Catharin Dalpino
(Brookings Institution, Mar. 7, 2001) Since 1989, China's human rights record and its political system have been the subject of polarized debate in the U.S. policy community. A complicating factor for U.S. human rights policy in China, and more narrowly for assistance programs to China, is the complex and sometimes contradictory nature of Chinese political development. A step toward a more liberal environment is often matched by a step backward. In a country as large as China, it can be difficult to discern a clear bottom line when both positive and negative trends are simultaneously in play.

U.S. Policy Toward China By Kenneth Lieberthal
(Brookings Institute, March 2001) The Bush administration's China policy must be part of a larger Asian strategy that keeps America fully engaged, maintains the region's strength and dynamism in an era of globalization, and encourages China's own constructive engagement in the region. This would provide both the best prospect for encouraging China's internal reform and external cooperation and for creating the conditions to cope with the consequences should China ultimately seek to confront the United States across the region.

US Fears of China's Influence Extend Far Beyond Iraq
(Editorial, Asia Times, Feb. 23, 2001)
The spat between the United States and China over the latter's alleged military assistance to Iraq is overshadowing a number of contentious issues between the two countries, such as Taiwan, human rights and US plans for a missile defense shield. It is also deflecting attention from Central Intelligence Agency concerns over Chinese missile-related technical assistance to Pakistan and the "provision of other missile-related items and raw materials to several countries of proliferation concern, including Iran, North Korea and Libya".

How the Bush People Should Deal with China By Susan Shirk
(Asia Pacific Media Network, Feb. 2001) First of all, continue to do what we did, which is just to be in almost constant contact with the two sides, urging them actively to restore the dialogue. Secondly, it is important for the US government to keep a very stable and consistent set of policies toward the two sides and for cross-strait relations. Finally, on arms sales, which is politically a very difficult subject. Of course the United States must fulfill its responsibility to assist Taiwan in providing for its own self-defense. But it must do this in a prudent way.

New U.S.-Sino Power Diplomacy By Willy Wo-Lap Lam
(CNN, Jan. 26, 2001) Beijing officials have pointed out the first test of Sino-U.S. relations will be in April, when Washington will decide on the types of weapons it will sell Taiwan this year. Aides to President Jiang, who is expected to retire in 2003, have cited "great power diplomacy," particularly stabilizing relations with the United States, as one of his major legacies.