Is political inexperience trumping Sino-US diplomacy?
- By Kyle Calandra
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E-mail China.org.cn, June 3, 2017
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Trump's cabinet. [Zhai Haijun/China.org.cn] |
However, if one thing about Trump has remained certain, it's that the international community is decidedly uncertain about which direction he plans to steer the country, especially U.S. involvement in Asia.
A new trade deal with China prompted the Trump administration to hail the president's "Herculean" efforts to strengthen Sino-US ties, while the majority of American policy experts were somewhat unconvinced.
According to the Financial Times, "The 10-point package revealed on Friday (May 12) was billed as an 'early harvest' from the 100-day plan to reset the trade relationship that President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping agreed to pursue when they met in April."
In the same report, the newspaper revealed China "would begin allowing wholly foreign-owned financial groups to offer credit rating services by July 16. It will also allow US-owned payment processors such as MasterCard and Visa to apply for licences to settle renminbi payments in China," alongside "an agreement for China to resume imports of US beef and to speed up its approvals of genetically modified crops and other biotech products now awaiting Chinese licences."
According to the Quartz, the Trump administration "agreed to send one of its top Asia experts, Matthew Pottinger, a National Security Council official, to the two-day OBOR (One Belt One Road) summit just completed in Beijing," signalling American support for the initiative.
Although it was received as a sign of goodwill between the two nations, critics say it does little to address the growing disparities between either nation that have threatened relations during Trump's early presidency.
Many believe it shows the administration's desire to adopt a winning facade at the cost of further detachment from political realities, with Trump consistently hoping to use trade deals as a means of influencing China's policies.
Treading Water
Any warm feelings encouraged by the trade agreement were offset by reports that the U.S. was resuming naval patrols in the disputed South China Sea for the first time since Trump took office.
Speaking to Express.co.uk on May 10, US Navy Commander Gary Ross revealed the Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPs) would continue.
Meanwhile, Business Insider reported: "China said the USS Dewey, a guided-missile destroyer, sailed just a few miles off Mischief Reef (Meiji Jiao) on Wednesday (May 24)," prompting Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lu Kang to publicly assert these actions could damage the "peace and security of the region and long-term cooperation between the two countries."
Throughout Trump's presidency, the Pentagon is believed to have turned down requests to allow warships to sail near Chinese islands, encouraging speculation that the president may have agreed to back off that issue in exchange for cooperation over North Korea.
On Friday, May 12, Chinese vice finance minister Zhu Guangyao insisted, "We cannot politicize economic issues," hinting at the ineffectiveness of the Trump administration's strategy to politically capitalize on economic agreements.
From this perspective, any encouraging signs delivered by the trade deal seem to be overshadowed by the very real and blistering implications of Trump's political posturing in the South China Sea. Since continued patrols seem to be a necessity to Trump, questions arise concerning how China will respond and how this will impact relations and the North Korean imbroglio.
In April, Reuters reported that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi asserted, "Diplomatic means must be used to resolve tensions on the Korean peninsula", urging all sides to find a "peaceful solution."
Days later, Trump himself acknowledged a major conflict with North Korea was possible, while stressing preference for a diplomatic solution.
New Horizons
Beyond the veneer of trade agreements and the horrors of erratic presidential indiscretions, it's clear the threat of North Korea and America's response will continue to define Sino-US relations in the immediate future.
Brave, proactive policies must be considered, and the Trump administration's inability to deliver straightforward policy is threatening the long-established framework of Sino-US relations.
What seems vital is the creation of a multi-state forum, not only for continued communication but vital cooperation between the nations involved.
Political upheavals in South Korea, questions surrounding Trump's unpredictable policies together with China's evolving role as a global superpower highlight the unique domestic situation that each nation must now consider. The increasingly complex dynamic of domestic and international commitments shared by these separate countries shape their expanding individual responsibilities on the world stage.
Relying on a forum to help each nation understand their domestic and international concerns could reshape the burden of individual responsibilities and allow for the achievement of a community of shared future and the promise of mutual advantage. Any state would then be free of the burden of embracing a position of direct leadership when all parties have a vested interest in the shared success of diplomatic resolution.
As a political framework, the multi-state solution would create a precedent for continued cooperation surrounding the host of issues currently complicating relations and provide a way forward for continued regional stability.
It's time for a Trump-led America to send a clear message to the international community, embrace globalization, encourage a multi-state forum and stand together with China and other countries involved under a diplomatic banner.
Having previously lived in Beijing working as a journalist and editor, Kyle Calandra is currently based in America reporting on Sino-U.S. Relations as a contributor for China.org.cn.
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
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