Why is US afraid of China?

What does China’s emergence as a major power mean for the power equations on the global stage? What are the implications for the global leadership of the United States? Why is the US threatened by China’s ascendence and what are the options before it?

According to a task force under the auspices of the US Council on Foreign Relations, US needs to adopt a much broader and more focused strategy - integration - to maximize the areas of collaboration with China and minimize the likelihood of conflict.

In an article in International herald Tribute, Carla A. Hills, a former U.S. trade representative and Admiral Dennis C. Blair, a former commander-in-chief of the U.S. Pacific Command, say that relationship between the United States and China will shape the future of the planet in the 21st century. The world has seldom smoothly managed the emergence of a great power, and China's rise will call for wise policies by the United States, other countries and China itself.

As China has grown more powerful and assertive in the international arena, those areas where China's interests and those of the United States diverge have been brought into sharper focus. The US concerns are identified as the massive trade deficit arising from China’s economic development, poor human rights record remains poor with progress on political liberty and religious freedom lagging far behind China's economic accomplishments, China’s growing sphere of influence in different regions and the fact that China's economic growth has provided Beijing the wherewithal to modernize its military and develop a robust space program leading to fears that it can soon emerge as a military peer of the United States.

Talking of “the right American policy”, the article suggests a “positive approach, rather than attempting containment”.

“While taking prudent measures to account for the uncertainty of China's future, the right American policy is to seek to integrate China even further into the global community. This positive approach, rather than attempting containment, is the best policy for America to influence China's interests and actions in accordance international norms.”

The task force has identified three elements of the “integration” strategy that the US should follow:

• deepening engagement with China, especially on security issues, rule of law and good governance;
• weaving China more thoroughly into the international community to better address issues like environmental protection, energy security and public health;
• balancing China's growing power by strengthening America's global economic competitiveness, continuing U.S. force modernization and enhancing alliances and security partnerships.

The complete IHT article "Engaging the New China" can be accessed here.