The European Union should see China's rise as an opportunity to
further its own development, clarify its interests, and reform
outdated policies to avoid damaging economic and social relations
through protectionism and conservatism.
Last year, there was a heated debate about the rise of China in
the United States. This year, the China wind has blown to the other
side of the Atlantic Ocean. The subject has recently gained
momentum among European scholars. EU officials revealed that the EU
is drafting a new strategy for China and will publish it soon. The
EU is taking the opportunity to thoroughly review its China
policy.
Last year the EU began a strategic dialogue with the US and they
reached a consensus to delay lifting an arms embargo on China. This
year, NATO has actively participated in Asia-Pacific Security
Affairs. This seems to indicate that EU policy on China is similar
to that of the US. The possibility was raised recently when the EU
reacted similarly to the US in relation to China's RMB exchange
rate and trade deficit issues. However, such similarities are not
enough to prove that the EU view on China is the same as that of
the US.
First of all, there are significant differences between the EU
and the US in their values and strategic targets. The US pays more
attention to promoting democracy while the EU treats stability as
the pre-condition for democracy and progress. The EU and US are
taking a different stand on the Middle East and the former Soviet
Union. The US is obvious in its unilateralist approach, imposing
its ideas upon others in its foreign policy. The EU tries to
maintain its own interests through the promotion of the advantages
of the EU concept. US scholar Robert Kagan argues that the
fundamental dispute between the US and the EU is that the US still
lives in the Hobbs modern world which is based on power and
aggression while the EU has entered the post-modern world which
seeks peace through dialogue and cooperation. It may not be an
entirely accurate view, but it is reasonable.
The EU and the US also take a different view of China's military
development. The US complains that China's military operations are
not transparent and that China's military development constitutes a
threat. The US and its allies intend to influence international
opinion and form a strategic partnership with other countries to
deal with China. The EU pays more attention to the military
strength of the whole Asian region. It cares more about how any
strategic change will affect Europe and it doesn't believe China's
military development poses a direct threat to the EU.
Lastly, the EU and the US have different expectations for
China's role in world affairs. The US hopes China will recognize
and participate in the international order it dominates and submit
to their control. By contrast, the EU hopes that China will become
a constructive partner and promote global relations in a
multilateral international order.
The US and the EU may share some attitudes towards China, but
they also have a great many differences. This has enabled the EU to
be objective and rational when considering an approach to the
development of China.
In formulating a new approach to China, the EU should consider
the following: reshaping triangular relations between China, the EU
and the US to reflect differences in interest; moving beyond cold
war thought and exploring the driving forces between China and the
EU; stabilizing the strategic base between China and the EU; and
clarifying their common interests to ensure they will benefit from
China's growth.
There should be more economic and trade cooperation between
China and the EU, as well as collaboration on Middle Eastern and
African issues. They should communicate and cooperate on matters of
global importance to avoid politicizing economic issues and
complicating bilateral issues. They should learn from each other on
development issues. China's sustained economic development will
provide a good model for the EU while the EU's experience in
management and culture will be good for China.
China's recent rise should draw EU interest in an attempt to
further global development.
The article was written by Wang Honggang from China's
Contemporary International Relations Research Institute and
translated by People's Daily Online.
(People's Daily online June 9, 2006)
