China has correctly deciphered the political and military designs of the United States which wanted to enforce a set of new rules in the Far East.
The spy plane crisis offered China an opportunity to lay down the laws which suited its interests both internationally and regionally with the apparent motive of limiting the US supremacy in the region.
The US administration, however, declared early this month its intention to shift its global strategic center for security from Europe to Asia.
The US administration made no secret of its motives when it stated that the emergence of China as a military power in the region necessitated the shift. China has clearly understood how US used the spy plane issue as a cover for a strategic move to fortify its military build-up in the region. The adroit Chinese management of the plane crisis has, obviously, forced the US to end its easy-going political relations with China. Further, the US feels that it no longer has the freedom of movement in the Far East which it has been enjoying for the last 10 years.
China intends to put an end to the American bullying and bossing around in Asia and make Washington realize that it was time to treat the regional powers there on an equal footing. China also wanted to convince the US that it has the right to be an equal partner with US when it comes to drawing up future policies in the region as well as outside the region.
China has staked its partnership claims in international and regional matters, particularly after the US role changed from guaranteeing security to imposing its will on weaker states forcing some of them to strike a defiant posture.
The hegemonistic US stance has been increasingly evident in recent times when it started to spy on and intervene in the affairs of North Korea and spy on China. Even Japan was not spared. The US naval submarine collided with Japanese merchant vessels with no apparent explanation.
The US also punished India and Pakistan for their nuclear ambitions and bombed targets in Afghanistan.
Further more, China has been deeply disturbed by the open and covert US support to Taiwan which Beijing wanted to be reunites with the mainland.
In the negotiations following the plane crisis China has been careful to lay down new principles in its relations with Washington not just at the bilateral level but encompassing the entire Far East as well.
China also wanted to make the Bush administration rush to formulate its policies on relations with China in all areas.
China has successfully been resisting the US-dominated globalization drive as the most populous country in the world identified the globalization as another US ploy to encroach upon others’ rights and assert US superiority.
On the contrary, China presented a rich cultural heritage based on an ideology which envisaged a powerful ruler possessing high moral principles and acceptable to the subjects and neighboring countries. China has been striving to develop the ideology in a positive manner avoiding confrontation with other dominant concepts in the contemporary world.
No one doubts China’s ambition or capability to become a superpower. But it is not rash enough to jump for a confrontation with the US.
President Bush recently told American businessmen, who wanted to improve relations with China, that he supported commercial ties with China as it was a “young” big country. It should be noted that the president used the word “young” to avoid acknowledging China’s military power publicly.
In the negotiations between them, each party has been striving to contain the other but, of course, avoiding any stubborn or arrogant stance.
The relations between them, obviously, are deeply complicated. But everyody agrees that the US has no choice but to refashion its policies to keep the yellow monster in good humor.
