Distaste with Recent Media Commentary

Recently, the American media has been awash with articles describing China's rise as an economic and political power, as well as China's increasing aggression in international politics. Citing issues such as Taiwan, Tibet, currency re-evaluation, economic policy, etc., these authors declare that China is a country that is using its newly found status to block the American agenda for its own selfish needs.

The Washington Post's Robert Samuelson writes:

Conflicts with China have multiplied. Consider: the undervalued Renminbi and its effect on trade; the breakdown of global warming negotiations in Copenhagen; China's weak support of efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons; its similarly poor record in pushing North Korea to relinquish its tiny atomic arsenal; the sale of U.S. weapons to Taiwan; and Google's threat to leave China rather than condone continued censorship.

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A wealthier China has become more assertive, notes Jacques. American prestige has further suffered from the financial crisis originating in the United States. But the fissure goes deeper: China does not accept the legitimacy and desirability of the post-World War II global order, which involves collective responsibility among great powers (led by the United States) for world economic stability and peace.

Similarly, in an article entitled 'The Dragon's Swagger,' New York Times columnist Roger Cohen writes:

Top of Obama’s nonproliferation list was Iran and the need for a united front on its nuclear program. China has since said “sanctions themselves are not an end” as the United States tries to harness support for them. Take that, too.

Top of Obama’s trade list was the need for China to allow its currency, the renminbi, to appreciate rather than pegging it at an artificially low rate that spurs Chinese exports and, in effect, keeps jobs in Guangzhou as it kills them in Ohio. But a basic rule in China is that it looks inward before it looks outward. Its cheap-currency job-hoarding is about Chinese social stability, which is Job One for Hu and his cohorts, so there’s no sign of any movement.

I have become a bit weary of this type of commentary. First of all, there is nothing new here. On issues concerning human rights, Tibet, arms sales to Taiwan, currency issues, China has consistently gone on the defensive, refusing to cave to foreign pressure. In addition, these have all been key issues (or political red herrings, depending on your perspective) for decades.

This is not to say that China is not motivated by self interest; it undoubtedly is. But to accuse a country of pursuing its national interests, while is certainly a fiery critique, is the equivalent of accusing water of being wet. Arguments such as Samuelson's depiction of a selfish China rejecting the world system established by a benevolent US are clear manipulations of logic.

However, to give these pundits credit, while the issues themselves have not changed, China has. America's debt to China as well as China's relative economic stability during the economic crisis have all been issues of discussion in the past year. The nature of the debate has indeed changed from China as an emerging threat to China as an emerging world power (which threatens to overtake the US). But given all this, how should we perceive the 'China Swagger'? Wall Street Journalist China commentator Yiyi Lu has this to say in response:

The discrepancy between the statements of top leaders and some of China’s actions and discourses in recent times is not surprising. In managing China’s image, Beijing faces a dilemma. On the one hand, it is well aware that the numerous unresolved “contradictions and problems” domestically make China a “fragile” power at best that is in no position to flex its muscle internationally. On the other hand, it also recognizes the necessity to talk up China’s achievements and strengths both domestically and internationally.

Domestically, such achievements and strengths serve as a major source of the government’s legitimacy. Internationally, they can gain China a bigger say in global governance issues and facilitate some of its foreign policy objectives. Therefore, Beijing has always had to strike a careful balance between portraying itself as a great rising power and as a large third world country still grappling with daunting development challenges.

The balance, however, is not static. Beijing needs constantly to adjust its position as domestic and international situations change. It also needs to counterbalance international discourses of China’s status. In the past year, as China weathered the global financial crisis better than most other countries, international discourse has increasingly emphasized and exaggerated China’s power while downplaying its weaknesses. A recent New York Times article reflects this discourse well. “These days, China is no longer emerging. It has emerged”, the article asserts.

The growing dominance of the “China has already risen” discourse internationally has tilted the balance which Beijing has tried to maintain. If it still considers the balance important, then it is time that Beijing adjusts its position by adopting a more low-key attitude in its speech and conduct, regardless of whether the accusation of its assertiveness is fair or not.