Contentious Mailbag on China

I have the best readers in the world. Reviewing the many e-mails I received in 1997--a year surely most notable in the PacRim for Asia’s stomach-churning economic plummet--the awesome issue of China remained topic No. 1. This makes sense when you think about it: Surely the downturn will go away some day, but China won’t. Samples from the e-mail bag--and some of my thoughts.

E-mail: Given the fever pitch some people work themselves into, the current attitude toward China is similar in many respects to the paranoia concerning Japan a few years ago. Makes me wonder if this fear of Asian countries is not racially based.

D.C., Malibu

Me: If you look at who we aspire to be, I hope not; if you look at what we sometimes have been, I sometimes fear yes.

E-mail: I agree that we need to work with China, but can we persuade its leaders that international relations can be a win-win proposition? This is a novel notion for the Chinese--their mentality is win-lose.

H.L., Honolulu

Me: Alas, at times that’s our mentality, too. If China and America continue to butt heads only on the big divisive issues (for them, Taiwan; for us, human rights), we might as well restart the Cold War. Conversely, progress on other issues can change the tone and dynamic of the relationship between these two giants and steer them both away from win-lose. This would keep the peace in Asia.

E-mail: Some of those conservative East Coast columnists should register as foreign lobbyists. They cultivate U.S. hostility in order to make it easier for certain other countries to establish profitable commercial relations with China.

L.S., Los Angeles

Me: A delicious theory. But I never question the integrity of any fellow columnist.

E-mail: I am struck by your relentless boosterism about China. Do you receive any income from “consultancies” directly or indirectly, from the People’s Republic of China?

D.H., Los Angeles

Me: Thanks very much for the thought, but as my accountant will attest: No.

E-mail: China remains a communist country, so why does the U.S. maintain such an incredible double standard when it comes to Cuba?

D.D., Darien, Conn.

Me: For better or for worse, U.S. foreign policy is a creature of domestic politics. The anti-Castro Cuban lobby in Florida has awesome political clout in Washington, as does the business lobby that favors China engagement. But of course an aggressive, China-type engagement policy for Cuba would yield better results than an isolate-and- ignore Cuba-style policy for China, whether or not consistency is the goal.

E-mail: China represents a problem to us for years to come. A strong military on our part will always be necessary, something the public at large doesn’t really appreciate. We always have to be alert since diplomatically we stumble so much.

G.K., Los Angeles

Me: The Chinese respect those who speak softly but carry a big stick. They revised their military goals in the wake of the astounding performance of our military technology during the Gulf War. At the same time, let’s support the Pentagon’s efforts to develop an enlarging pattern of Sino-American military consultation.

E-mail: It is a disservice to propose that free trade and foreign investment are the cure-all for China’s serious internal problems and human-rights abuses. But I do agree that political bluster accomplishes little in diplomacy.

A.A., Los Angeles

Me: China clearly needs to find a far better way to manage potential internal instability in its swirling, dynamic society of 1.2 billion people. Its glaring failures in political rights and in Tibet limit the possibilities of the Sino-American relationship.

E-mail: We Taiwanese do not want Taiwan to become another Tibet. Asking China to forswear force against Taiwan in exchange for Taiwan forswearing independence efforts simply will not work.

H.S., Cerritos

Me: It had better. It’s impossible to believe that the current tense status quo will foster long-range stability in the region.

E-mail: Your attitude toward Taiwan is on target. For many years until this day, the Taiwan government has refused to have any dialogue with China. Refusing to sit down and talk is evidence of insecurity. This is what you meant about its “game playing,” right?

K.L., Hong Kong

Me: Taiwan’s future generations will only have praise for today’s Taiwanese leaders if they can somehow work out a process of reconciliation with Beijing.

E-mail: I’m a Chinese student from the mainland. I sincerely appreciate your positive thinking about the U.S.-China relationship. I’ve been through the bad times of the Cultural Revolution and I know China is finally on the right track.

Z.W.W., Hong Kong

Me: America must figure out a way to relate rationally and productively to one-quarter of the world’s population and their leaders. That would be a fitting New Year’s resolution for all Americans as their president plans his first trip ever to China later in 1998. Happy New Year to all, on both sides of the great Pacific, whatever your views.