Political India: Engaging America

From The Hindu

Washington and Beijing prepared to reengage in a week-long bilateral tango on a tightrope as Chinese Vice-President and presumptive leader-in-waiting Xi Jinping left for the United States on Monday.


Mr. Xi's visit will be closely followed for insights into the man expected to lead China for the next decade, as well as guide its relations with Washington amid growing tensions. In a pre-visit call with media, White House officials clearly indicated their appreciation of Mr. Xi's position. Daniel Russel, Senior Director for Asian Affairs, said, “Building a relationship with the official in China who seems likely destined to be a central figure in the Chinese political system for years to come obviously is important....”

However Mr. Xi left Beijing with a stern message for the U.S. aimed at its recent focus on rebuilding strategic alliances in the Asia-Pacific, seen by many in China as a move to contain its rise. “At a time when people long for peace, stability and development, to deliberately give prominence to the military security agenda, scale up military deployment and strengthen military alliances is not really what most countries in the region hope to see,” he said in a written interview with the Washington Post.

The U.S.' strategic concerns in Asia appeared to be heavily weighted in the planned policy agenda during Mr. Xi's visit. While officials emphasised their belief that the Chinese “share our view that Iran should not be permitted to develop a nuclear weapon,” they added that this visit would see the U.S. “consistently [address] with the Chinese the importance of not backfilling the sanctions that are in place... and [press] the Chinese on continuing to vigorously enforce sanctions.” The White House reiterated its message that “the Chinese and the Russians made the wrong decision in vetoing the recent U.N. Security Council resolution [relating to Syria].”

Officials are likely to face the thorniest area in the bilateral relationship, economics, head-on in the discussions. Even prior to Mr. Xi's departure, top Chinese officials have expressed concern about a “trust deficit” between the two countries amid rising trade disputes. “We must not allow frictions and differences to undermine the larger interests of our business cooperation,” Mr. Xi said in the Post interview. China would address concerns on Intellectual Property Rights protection and the trade imbalance, he said, but also sought the removal of restrictions on high-tech exports to China.

On the U.S. side, the well-worn complaints about Chinese business practices seemed to be of high priority still. Michael Froman, Deputy National Security Advisor, said, “Over the last few years there's been increasing frustration by the business community about practices that China engages in that they view as being mercantilist and creating an unlevel playing field. And that includes subsidies for their own national champions, as well as policies designed to compel the transfer of technology and their violation of intellectual property rights. So we certainly hear a much louder chorus of complaints from American companies about business with China.”

Yet American officials may face a stout rebuttal on some counts from their experienced interlocutor. Mr. Xi is seen as a more international and outgoing leader than President Hu Jintao. This week's visit is not his first to the U.S. – he travelled to Iowa, where he will return this week, 27 years ago when he was a provincial official in central Hebei. He is known to have a love for Hollywood cinema – he will also visit Los Angeles on this trip – and basketball. But whether his charisma can soothe what is seen as a long list of strains is far from clear.

His greatest challenge may be the human rights question, on which the U.S. has repeatedly pressed senior Chinese officials. On this subject Mr. Russel noted, “It is an area of grave concern for us to witness the increase of tensions in Tibet and we are... tracking this very closely with real concern.”