Book review: US policy toward China: written by Robbert G. Sutter.

1. U.S. PLOICY TOWARD CHINA
(Book name)
Reviewed by
NASIR IQBAL

2. Contents:
• Introduction
• Rising Influence After The Cold War
• The MFN debate During The Bush Administration
• The MFN Debate During The Clinton Administration
• The Taiwan Crisis of 1995-1996
• Convergence and Conflict IN U.S.-China Policy199697

3. MAIN THEME OF THE BOOK
Author his focused attention on the US. China relation
since 1989 -98.
Numbers of incidents occurs (1989-98 )in b/w U.S.-China
relations specially :
 Tiananmen incident (1989).
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End of Cold War (1991).
1992 U.S. election.
Interest Groups and their role in policy.
MFN linkage with China polices.
Chinese efforts for Improvements of
home issues.
Pro Taiwan groups lobbied for Taiwan
president visit to U.S..
Issues regarding military confrontation
on Taiwan.
U.S. Policy of Engagement with China.
U.S.-China Summit conference (1997).

4. 1.Introduction
 According
to the Author, since 1-1-1979(Cater
announcement) major crises in U.S.-China
relations took place with Tiananmen Incident
with death of communist party chief Hu
Yaobang.
 Bush lost his presidency in 1992 due to his to
tough policy toward China.
 U.S. domestic interest group are now more
strong as they were during cold war.

5. 1.Introduction…..

President Clinton during his 1st term was
much less concerned with foreign policy
toward china. ( favored by those groups
whom funded him in election 1992).
U.S. Businesses group, pro Taiwan students
and groups.
 Allowed Taiwan president to visit U.S.
 That result in serious crises b/w U.S. and
China.
 Chinese agencies provided fund to various
candidates and funded congressman visit to
China and also to get MFN yearly renewal.


6. Introduction….
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In 1995 Clinton took charge of Foreign policy after
strong Military reaction from China.
In response U.S. sent two craft carrier ships to
Taiwan and pressed china not to test missile near
Taiwan.
U.S used back door diplomacy to handle the issue and
assured China that they will not allow Taiwan High
level official to U.S.
On the other hand some domestic group and media
continued criticism on soft policy toward China.
Clinton during 2nd term of Presidency with strong
commitment continued “Engagement Policy” .
1n 1997 China president visited U.S., for U.S.-China
Summit, and He also visited few U.S. Top Department
and final deal for Dollar 4Billion Boeing Craft to ease
down U.S. Domestic critics and Media.

7. 2. Rising Influence after the cold war
• Elitism –domination by the Executive branch
,especially by the White house, The State Department,
According to the
and the Pentagon.
Author, after the
end of Cold war • Presidential consultation with a bipartisan leadership.
U.S. policy towards • Mobilization of public support through media.
China shift from
elitism to pluralism.
• Pluralization: Reallocation of power within govt, away
from the executive branch and toward congress.
• Much greater participation of NGO and lobbying groups.
• Much less consensus within congress and the broad
public over foreign policy.

8. RISING INFLUENCE AFTER THE COLD WAR….

There exists three different school of
thoughts within U.S regarding Post Cold war
foreign policy:

one prominent school of thought stresses decline in
U.S. power .This group suggest U.S.
 To
work harder to preserve its interests.
 To use complex mix of international, regional, and
bilateral efforts .
 To keep issues regarding Security, economic and
cultural-political on top in policy making.
 It urges caution in policy toward other regional
power- Russia, China and India.(to work closely with
these mentioned states).

9. RISING INFLUENCE AFTER THE COLD WAR….

2nd school argues for:( America FIRST).


Major cutbacks in U.S. international activity including
military involvement, and a renewed focus o solving such
domestics as crime, drug use, economic competitiveness,
educational standards, homelessness and transportation
infrastructure.
3rd school argues that:



Policy needs to promote U.S. interests in international
political, military, and economic affairs more actively and
to use U.S. influence to pressure countries that do not
conform to norms of an appropriate world order.
Supporter of this thought want U.S. to maintain its military
forces with worldwide capabilities, to lead in world
affairs, and to minimize compromises.
And importantly this school of thought has been present in
American politics thought this century specially after
1960S ( Vietnam war, Oil shocks and the iron hostage
crises)… and this trend we have seen presently in U.S.
policy ( attacking Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya).

10. RISING INFLUENCE AFTER THE COLD WAR….
 Three
 Ist
Approaches to U.S.-China policy:
Approach-considered is moderate approach
believes that trends in china are moving not
according to desire “right” direction-that china is
increasingly interdependent economically with
its neighbors and the advanced industrial
economies and thus unlikely to destabilize these
relationships.
 Economic growth promotes a materially better
off and more educated and cosmopolitan
populace that will over result for greater
political pluralism and democratic institutions.
 To get these long term goals U.S must work
closely with china.

11. RISING INFLUENCE AFTER THE COLD WAR….

2nd Approach demands for tough relation
with China.
 Supporters of this approach consider current
China conformance to many international
norms a time biding factor and think if once
China gets Economic modernization, Beijing
will not sacrifice its nationalistic and
territorial ambition for economic stability.
 And they think U.S. should rely on strong
military power as a counterweight to rising
china.

12. RISING INFLUENCE AFTER THE COLD WAR….
 3RD
Approach favored by some U.S.
officials and other leaders believes that
China‟s political system needs to change
before U.S. can establish constructive
relationship with Beijing.
 Aim should be to change China from within
while maintain vigilance against disruptive
Chinese foreign policy.

13. RISING INFLUENCE AFTER THE COLD WAR….

Techniques used by groups to influence
U.S f.policy:
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Be active not reactive
The message (clear to the point).
Amplifying the message (media attention).
Entry points( congress is major focus).
Strategies( as a strategy work with congress or other
influencing bodies supportive to them and those
individual who still needs persuasion)

14. 3.The MFN debate During Bush
Administration
 The
TV shown Tiananmen incident June 1989
created major crisis in U.S. policy toward
china.
 Initial response form U.S. on Tiananmen
incident:


The Bush ordered the suspension of all Govt-Govt
sale, commercial export of weapons, suspension of
visits b/w U.S. and Chinese Military leaders and also
suspended new loans for China.
The Bush administration and many congressmen
privately pressed Chinese Leaders to take steps for:
Easy martial laws in Beijing.
 Allow VOA to broadcast programme fro china
 Allow U.S. professors to work there..


15. The MFN debate During Bush Administration……
U.S. domestic media, Chinese student at U.S.and
Human rights organization created strong anti
China atmosphere in U.S.(demanding for tough
policy against China).
 President Bush took the charge of controlling
policy toward china.
 Realizing the situation Chinese official took few
steps to insure they are committed to improve
the situation and not to interfere in U.S
 By the end of 1990,Bush considered MFN china
yearly renewal necessary for his policy of
“engagement” and did so without listening to
domestic demand as result last 1992 election.


16. 4.The MFN debate during Clinton administration…
March 9, 1992. While campaigning for
President, Bill Clinton says, “I do not believe
we should extend „Most Favored Nation‟
status to China unless they make significant
progress in human rights, arms proliferation
and fair trade.”
 June 3, 1993. President Clinton signs an
executive order extending MFN to China on
the condition that MFN will not be renewed
in 1994 if human rights do not improve.
 1993-94, China achieved growth of 12-13%.
Which attracted U.S. domestic business
groups and they continued to extend their
relationship with china.


17. The MFN debate during Clinton administration….
About 800 U.S leading Businesses wrote letter
to extend MFN to china without conditions.
 November 19, 1993. Chinese President Jiang
Zeeman meets informally with President Clinton
at a conference for Asian-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) leaders. Afterward, Clinton
says, “I think anybody should be reluctant to
isolate a country as big as China with the
potential China has for good.”
 May 1994,Clinton delink MFN from Human rights
issues in China.


18. 5.The Taiwan Crisis of 1995-96
According to the Author in past two decayed
U.S,China and Taiwan triangle often cover with
presenting problems basically dovetailed with
U.S interest.
 The Clinton administration‟s decision to allow
Taiwan president Lee Teng-hui‟s resulted in
unwanted response from China.
 China canceled bilateral dialogues ,suspended
key meetings with Taiwan and started proactive
military exercises near Taiwan border, also
warned that move toward independence would
result in China invasion of Taiwan.


19. The Taiwan Crisis of 1995-96…
 This
incident reinforce Chinese suspicion that
U.S had decided to “contain “ china or hold
back Chinese economic growth and want to
develop relation with Taiwan.
 Clinton administration tried to reassure
Beijing that U.S was not attempting to hold
China‟s development but Chinese unmoved
till Clinton administration assured U.S. will
not give visa to other senior Taiwan leaders.

20. 6.Convergence and conflicts in us-china
policy,1996-97
 The
crises in Us-China relations over Taiwan
resulted in Clinton administration to pay
more attention to China policy.
 This resulted in opening way for higher level
meetings and U.S-China summits(1997 and
19980).
 U.S leaders have perceived that they will
need to devote continuous high level policy
attention: case by case, year by year to deal
with rising china.

21. Convergence and conflicts in us-china
policy,1996-97....
 On
the other hand Chinese leaders welcomes
higher level dialogues and US-China summits.
 Greater coherence and convergence of
opinion among US-China policy clearly assists
the efforts of organized interests whose goals
are compatible with that policy.
 And both countries top leaders are aware of
sensitive issues on either sides and hence
accordingly shipping there policies.

22. My view about the book
 Easy
and interesting book to read and learn.
 One can understand the role of organized
groups in developing or destabilizing
relations b/w states.
 Both U.S.-China interested to keeps other
issues aside from business activities.
 In developing foreign policy, each step is very
careful designed and taken.
 Foreign policy is more about give and take.