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China

US-China Relations: Areas of Conflict and Opportunity

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As President Clinton embarks on his first visit to China in nine years, the stage is set for a complex dance between two nations with vastly different economic, human rights, and military interests. The cornerstone of US-China relations is trade, where the two nations engage in a delicate balance of economic give-and-take, with the US offering access to its massive market in exchange for China's vast consumer base. However, this arrangement has been skewed in China's favor, resulting in a massive trade deficit for the US, which is unsustainable in the long term.

Key Takeaways:

  • US exports to China increased by 90 percent from 1990 to 1996, supporting an estimated 170,000 US jobs.
  • China plans to spend $750 billion over the next three years to upgrade its infrastructure, creating opportunities for US companies to participate.
  • The US trade deficit with China stands at $13 billion in US goods, while China sold $62 billion worth of toys, clothes, and other products to Americans.
  • China wants the US to support its bid to join the World Trade Organization, which would grant China more trade privileges and access to global markets.
  • The US has concerns over access to China's markets and sees the Chinese bid to join the WTO as a potential threat to US trade interests.
  • China has a poor human rights record, with over 158 pro-democracy protesters still held in prison, as well as other human rights abuses.
  • The US is pressing China to sign the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which would require China to treat its citizens well and allow the UN to monitor progress.
  • China has steadily upgraded its military, with the potential to pose a threat to the US in the future.
  • The US has sold 47 supercomputers to China for commercial use, which have ended up in Chinese nuclear labs, raising concerns about nuclear cooperation.
  • China assisted Pakistan with its nuclear weapons program, sparking a nuclear arms race between Pakistan and India.

Statistics:

  • US exports to China increased by 90 percent from 1990 to 1996.
  • The US trade deficit with China stands at $13 billion in US goods.
  • China sold $62 billion worth of toys, clothes, and other products to Americans.
  • China plans to spend $750 billion over the next three years to upgrade its infrastructure.
  • 158 pro-democracy protesters still held in prison in China.
  • Over 2,000 political dissidents held in Chinese prisons.
  • 47 supercomputers sold to China for commercial use, which have ended up in Chinese nuclear labs.
  • The number of nuclear missiles China has capable of hitting the US, with seven to 13 missiles.

Sources:

  • "China: A New Era of Opportunity and Challenge" by Li Zhaoxing, China's ambassador to the US.
  • "US-China Relations: A Delicate Balance" by David Aaron, undersecretary of commerce for international trade.
  • "China's Human Rights Record: A Continuing Concern" by Abigail Abrash, China specialist at the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights.
  • "The US-China Military Balance" by Michael Klare, professor of world security studies at Hampshire College in Massachusetts.
  • "US-China Relations: Challenges and Opportunities" by Jia Qingguo, professor of international studies at Beijing University.

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