Today, when American foreign policy is mentioned in the news, China is not frequently a trending topic. The reason for this is simple--China and the U.S. both have recognized the importance of cooperation, especially regarding economic policy and international security. Both countries realize that maintaining a cordial working relationship is beneficial for economic stability due to large roles they both play in the world economic sphere. In fact, the majority of Americans polled by Gallup in February 2012 believe that U.S.-China relations are friendly and also believe that it is important to maintain a good relationship with China.
With this in mind, recent articles from the New York Times reporting on Chinese activist Chen Guancheng highlight the importance the U.S. government, and in particular the Executive Branch, places on keeping relations in China civil. Chen, a blind activist, has been arrested and allegedly beaten by Chinese authorities for his dissident views. His treatment by the Chinese highlights a major, if not the major, area of contention between the U.S. and China—human rights violations. Due to Chen’s public requests and his high-profile status, the United States has offered him the chance to study in the U.S., an outcome with which the Chinese are pleased, having said that they will expedite Chen’s exit visa. Although the United States objects to China’s lackadaisical approach to human rights, the Obama Administration’s actions highlight two very important points about current American foreign policy.
First, the response of Obama, carried through by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, shows that the United States values its relationship with China and understands the importance of maintaining a working relationship with one of the biggest economic powerhouses in the world. They also recognize the importance that China plays in national security, especially in regards to North Korea, one of China’s close neighbors. At this point, the economic and security partnership trumps reacting negatively to China's blatant human rights violations and risking backlash. Clinton used the opportunity of economic talks in China to resolve the "Chen issue" before it became a major sticking point for the U.S. and China.
Second, the actions of the Obama Administration highlight the fact that the President makes many of the decisions that govern foreign policy, with little to no input from Congress. In this particular situation especially, consulting Congress before deciding to offer Chen asylum surely would have resulted in long and drawn out deliberation, which would not have boded well for the goal of resolving the issue quickly in order to avoid souring our relationship with China. Obama may have been thinking along the same lines as Aaron Wildavsky in "The Two Presidencies". Wildavsky writes that "Presidents must now expect to pay the high costs themselves if the world situation deteriorates," which may explain Obama's quick decision-making to avoid a deterioration in U.S.-China relations.
With this in mind, recent articles from the New York Times reporting on Chinese activist Chen Guancheng highlight the importance the U.S. government, and in particular the Executive Branch, places on keeping relations in China civil. Chen, a blind activist, has been arrested and allegedly beaten by Chinese authorities for his dissident views. His treatment by the Chinese highlights a major, if not the major, area of contention between the U.S. and China—human rights violations. Due to Chen’s public requests and his high-profile status, the United States has offered him the chance to study in the U.S., an outcome with which the Chinese are pleased, having said that they will expedite Chen’s exit visa. Although the United States objects to China’s lackadaisical approach to human rights, the Obama Administration’s actions highlight two very important points about current American foreign policy.
First, the response of Obama, carried through by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, shows that the United States values its relationship with China and understands the importance of maintaining a working relationship with one of the biggest economic powerhouses in the world. They also recognize the importance that China plays in national security, especially in regards to North Korea, one of China’s close neighbors. At this point, the economic and security partnership trumps reacting negatively to China's blatant human rights violations and risking backlash. Clinton used the opportunity of economic talks in China to resolve the "Chen issue" before it became a major sticking point for the U.S. and China.
Second, the actions of the Obama Administration highlight the fact that the President makes many of the decisions that govern foreign policy, with little to no input from Congress. In this particular situation especially, consulting Congress before deciding to offer Chen asylum surely would have resulted in long and drawn out deliberation, which would not have boded well for the goal of resolving the issue quickly in order to avoid souring our relationship with China. Obama may have been thinking along the same lines as Aaron Wildavsky in "The Two Presidencies". Wildavsky writes that "Presidents must now expect to pay the high costs themselves if the world situation deteriorates," which may explain Obama's quick decision-making to avoid a deterioration in U.S.-China relations.
Rate this posting:
{[['
']]}
']]}