APD | Cooperation, not bullying, may suit both China and the US

Editor's notes: the author is Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan, Sinologist (ex-Diplomat), Editor, Analyst, Non-Resident Fellow of CCG (Center for China and Globalization), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan. (E-mail: [email protected]).

Either it is Electronic media or print media, it is full of anti-China sentiments. Unfortunately, the media is dominated by the Western World. Crulity! The western world is using media against China, fake news, misperception about China, blaming and bashing China is a routine matter. Media is projecting Western World’s narrative, which are evil-designs against China.

As a matter of fact, the Western World is declining due to their own wrong policies and losing credibility. Atrocities and brutalities, played by the Western world are exposed already. In a panic, the Western World is confused and making more blunders. They are trying to fix all responsibility on China. They can not digest Chinese achievements. They can not accept the Chinese peaceful rise. They are not willing to accept the Chinese role in geopolitics. So they are spreading fake news, fabricating stories, and coercing China.

On the one hand, they are creating unrest in Hong Kong, and Xinjiang, on the other hand, instigating Taiwan. Trade War, sanctions, and military pressures are all means to counter China, Contain China, and resist China’s peaceful rise.

China was a major contributor to the World economy. Either export or import, China is the single largest contributor. The single largest community of foreign students in the US is from China, contributing to intellectual input to the US, a major source of earning for American Universities, Chinese students enjoy a considerable amount of publications and patents in America. Chinese tourists are the single largest contributor to the American economy as compared to any other country. Chinese investment, industrialization, and trade has created a huge number of jobs for Americans.

Common people in China have no sick-feelings against Americans, contrarily, they love America. China never intended to counter America, no designs to confront America, no motives to challenge America. In fact, The Chinese philosophy of life is “Peace” and Chinese people always avoid confrontation. China wanted to cooperate with America and wanted to co-exist amicably. However, a healthy completion is always encouraged to make more developments. If the US can not compete with China in developments, it does not mean to counter China and resist Chinese rapid developments. The US should work hard, introduce better policies, create conducive environments to compete with China, confrontations may not help either side.

Even in the US, there are scholars, intellectuals, and think-tanks, more responsible, and having a clear vision. They are monitoring the issues critically and expressing an unbiased opinion. They know well that the US policies are leading toward disaster. They might not be in a position to change the Government approach but can change the public opinion extensively. It is believed, visionary individuals are playing a vital role and may succeed in defusing Sino-US tensions.

Ezra Vogel, Professor Emeritus at Harvard University, is one of such visionary individuals. Recently, in an interview with Global Times, China, he expressed his views:“I think there has been a grudging acceptance that even though the relations are very bad and even though the Trump administration pushed things to crazy extremes, there is widespread recognition in Washington that we must find a way to work together to avoid conflict.”

He believes: “The Trump administration is very disorganized. But I think if Trump is re-elected, which now seems very unlikely, he will want to be known for his reputation for the four years, so I think he will be interested in avoiding conflict with China. But it would be hard to have an integrated cooperative program. It would be disorganized, but it could be somewhat better.”

Regarding armed conflict, he said: “ Unfortunately, there is. Nobody wants it and everybody would lose if a war happens. But if you look at what happened in World War I, for example, it was started by a little event and then the larger countries quickly became involved even though they had not planned to. If there is a little scuffle in the South China Sea, it could soon escalate. And if the countries failed to control it, it could be devastating and everybody would lose. It is very scary.”

There are many more individuals, with a clear vision and predict the consequence of tension between the US and China. They are warning the Trump-Administration of the consequences, as well as proposing effective measures to co-exist with China and yet be beneficiary of Chinese rapid developments. It is believed, bullying may not be the best option, cooperation may suit both China as well as the US.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)