China’s on-again-off-again approach to U.S-China military interaction and Beijing’s refusal to allow Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to visit China during his recent Asian trip reveals a dysfunctional military relationship that’s the result of much more than Beijing’s displeasure over U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. It reflects fundamentally different national strategic objectives and the changing locus of leverage that result from China’s growing power and influence relative to the U.S. (More)
Filed under: Military, National Security, Beijing, Caspar Weinberger, china, Chinese Commmunist Party, cold war, defense authorization act, Deng Xiaoping, dysfunctional relationship, high-level dialogue, locus of leverage, Mao Zedong, on again off again, People's Liberation Army, PLA, Robert Gates, Ronald Reagan, Secretary of Defense, Silkworm anti-ship missiles, state of the art, Tiananmen Square protests, US arms sales to China, US arms sales to Taiwan, US forces in the Pacific, US-China military interaction, US-China military relationship, Zhongnanhai
Another fine column by Ed Ross! No only does he analyze clearly and with full grasp of the historical dimensions of Sino-American military relations, but he writes very well!
My only quibble is with his use of the term, “Beijing”! That city will always be Peking to me, and I see no reason to rename just because that might be closer to how they pronounce it in their language.
(Similarly, it’s weak to rename Bombay as “Mumbai.”)
Where does it end? Should we rename every place to make foreigners happy? Let’s rename Germany as Deutschland & Egypt Massr because that’s what the people who live there call those places!
We’re just getting stupider & stupider to please foreigners!
Ed, spot on. The French and Israeli’s would live to expand their arms sales relationship with China and I suspect many US firms would as well. It’s double edged sword. Would it give us leverage or would it weaken it?
Torkel, I’m not suggesting we should start selling them arms again, but we have to find something to give us leverage. Otherwise we’re the ardent suitor and they get to call most of the shots.
Ed
Great piece and great advice for all those who so ardently seek a relationship with the PLA.
Kevin
Kevin, thanks, appreciate that from someone who’s been there.
Ed,
Another fine column, keep up the great informative work!