The Global Importance of Sino-American Relations by Melvin Goodman
May 19 , 2023
Introduction:
(Counterpunch) There is no more important diplomatic relationship for the United States than its relations with China. The reverse is true for China as well. If Washington and Beijing can’t solve their political and economic issues than there will be regional instability in the Indo-Pacific region that will ripple through the world. For the global community to deal with the fundamental problems of climate change and pandemics, the two most important and powerful nations in the world must find a way to communicate and coexist. At this point in time, neither nation appears to accept or even understand the urgency of the current situation.
During the Cold War, there was a common purpose throughout much of the international arena, which allowed the United States to take the lead in confronting the Soviet Union. With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War in 1991, the European Community lost interest in global politics and stood by as the United States overplayed its hand and routinely misused its military power in the Middle East and Southwest Asia. Our European allies were willing to allow the United States to carry out its global responsibilities as it saw fit. As long as Europe is prepared to rely on the political and military dominance of the United States, it will be difficult for the key European states to forge their own identities.
Meanwhile, China was dealing with its considerable domestic problems, and not calling attention to its incremental military buildup. China has not used military force since its ill-advised invasion of Vietnam in 1979 to “teach Vietnam a lesson.”* Ironically, it was China that learned it was not prepared for combined arms warfare and Vietnam’s battlefield experience against the French and the United States over a twenty-five-year period created serious tactical problems for the Chinese invaders.
Currently, China has been taking advantage of the U.S. preoccupation with supporting Ukraine to steal a march on Washington’s interests, particularly in the Middle East. Unlike the United States, China has avoided contentious disputes throughout the Third World in order to establish reliable state-to-state relations in the Global South.
Philippines, U.S., Japan to hold first-ever joint coast guard exercise
Source: Reuters
MANILA, May 29 (Reuters) - The coast guard of the United States, Japan and the Philippines will hold trilateral maritime exercise in the South China Sea this week, the first such manoeuvres between them as a time of growing concern about China's moves in the region.
The June 1 to 7 exercise in waters off Bataan province was as initiative of the United States and Japan, while Australia would join as an observer, said Philippine coast guard spokesman Armand Balilo said on Monday. Four Philippine vessels and one each from the United States and Japan will participate in exercises designed to improve search and rescue collaboration and law enforcement, Balilo said.
The Philippines was approached by Japan and the United States about holding joint maritime exercises in February, the same month when Manila accused China of aggressive activities in the South China Sea, vast stretches of which Beijing claims as its territory. "This is a usual routine activity among coast guard agencies," Balilo told a press conference. "There is nothing wrong with holding exercises with your counterparts."
Japan, Australia and the United States have frequently condemned China's militarisation in the South China Sea and have sought to engage closer with U.S. ally the Philippines since Ferdinand Marcos Jr took over as president last year from pro-China predecessor Rodrigo Duterte.
US confirms China has had a spy base in Cuba since at least 2019
Source: AP
By AAMER MADHANI today
WASHINGTON (AP) — China has been operating a spy base in Cuba since at least 2019, part of a global effort by Beijing to upgrade its intelligence-gathering capabilities, according to a Biden administration official.
The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the U.S. intelligence community has been aware of China’s spying from Cuba and a larger effort to set up intelligence-gathering operations around the globe for some time.
The Biden administration has stepped up efforts to thwart the Chinese push to expand its spying operations and believes it has made some progress through diplomacy and other unspecified action, according to the official, who was familiar with U.S. intelligence on the matter.
The existence of the Chinese spy base was confirmed after The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that China and Cuba had reached an agreement in principle to build an electronic eavesdropping station on the island. The Journal reported China planned to pay a cash-strapped Cuba billions of dollars as part of the negotiations.
Can US-China Talks Reset Fraught Relationship? by Nike Ching
June 19, 2023
Introduction:
(Voice of America via Eurasia Review) U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang held “candid” and “direct” talks in Beijing Sunday, the State Department said, as the United States and China seek to stabilize the bilateral relationship amid rising tensions.
During the seven-and-a-half hour meeting at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, Qin accepted an invitation to come to the U.S. Agreement was also reached on more flights between the two countries.
In addition, both sides will continue to work on several issues “at a working level,” said a senior State Department official.
After Blinken’s in-person meetings with Qin, they had a working dinner later Sunday at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.
“The Secretary made clear that the United States will always stand up for the interests and values of the American people and work with its allies and partners to advance our vision for a world that is free, open, and upholds the international rules-based order,” said State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller in a statement.
Politico had a recent article concerning the theme of this thread. It points to recent evaluations of what would happen in a clash between China and a U.S. led alliance. The results have not been good for the U.S. Reasons for the overall weakness of the U.S, despite outspending by an enormous amount, include:
The "home field" advantage China would enjoy in envisioned war scenarios.
Diversion of resources to fight the so-called war on terror, which has included adventures in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Diversion of resources to assist the Ukraine.
The reluctance to abandon obsolete or otherwise ineffective weapons systems due to political considerations.
Exorbitant salaries and compensation packages for owners and upper management types within the military-industrial complex.
If we are going to examine growing tensions with China, then we should also examine efforts to ease those tensions.
This Week, the Biden Administration Went All In On Repairing Relations With China by Abby Vesoulis
July 9, 2023
Introduction:
(Mother Jones) US-China relations have long been tenuous, and the last two years have been no exception. There was the US diplomatic boycott of Beijing’s 2022 Winter Olympics. In August, China fired ballistic missiles after Nancy Pelosi—at the time, the Speaker of the House—visited Taiwan. Then in October, the US Commerce Department placed sweeping restrictions on China importing US-made computer chips, arguing they might be used to “commit human rights abuses.” Of course, this February, the US shot down a Chinese-operated balloon because officials believed it was spying on sensitive military sites.
But in the last few days, senior US officials have taken great, public efforts to turn things around with China, which President Joe Biden previously said is on pace to become “the most significant, consequential nation in the world” under the leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen spent 10 hours in meetings with Chinese officials in Beijing over the course of two recent days. Despite what she called remaining “significant disagreements,” Yellen said she and her Chinese counterparts “believe that the world is big enough for both of our countries to thrive.”
Emerging from conversations she had with the second-ranking member in the Chinese Community Party, Premier Li Qiang; China’s economic chief Vice Premier He Lifeng; finance minister Liu Kun; and People’s Bank of China chief Pan Gongsheng, Yellen said she anticipates more regular contact between US officials and their Chinese counterparts.
Her trip follows a similar one undertaken a few weeks ago by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Later in July, John Kerry, the special presidential envoy for climate change, is expected to make his own journey in an attempt to revive climate negotiations.
Pacom Commander Believes U.S. Must Continue Modernization Of Strategic Capabilities
by C. Todd Lopez
July 20, 2023
Introduction:
(Eurasia Review) The U.S. must continue to meet the pacing challenge presented by the Chinese government’s buildup of its military capabilities, the commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said.
Speaking at the Aspen Security Forum, Navy Adm. John C. Aquilino said he is concerned about of the buildup of China’s army, including its nuclear capabilities, but also that he knows the U.S. remains focused on protecting the homeland and U.S. forces. “It’s critical that the U.S. continues our modernization of our strategic capabilities,” he said. “It is the bottom-line defense of this nation through strategic nuclear deterrence. That said, the Chinese are going very quickly … what matters is that we modernize our force and we’re ready to be able to respond if need be.”
In the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility, Aquilino said the U.S. is also working to strengthen security in the region by building relationships there with partners and between partners, including with South Korea and Japan.
For instance, the USS Kentucky, a ballistic missile submarine, just yesterday made a port call in Busan, South Korea. It’s the first time a submarine of its type has visited South Korean since the 1980s.
“We have a mutual defense treaty alliance with both Japan and Korea and that means the entire … United States Armed forces is ready to support [those] alliances,” Aquilino said. “Demonstrating our willingness and our capabilities to our allies is reassuring
Japan Working with Philippines and U.S. to Protect South China Sea November 4, 2023
Introduction:
(Reuters via Asahi Shimbun) MANILA--Visiting Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Japan, the Philippines and the United States were cooperating to protect the freedom of the South China Sea as he committed to help enhance Manila’s security capabilities.
“In the South China Sea, trilateral cooperation to protect the freedom of the sea is under way,” Kishida said in an address before the Philippine congress in the capital Manila.
Kishida and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. agreed Nov. 3 to start negotiations on a reciprocal troop access deal to strengthen military cooperation as China becomes increasingly assertive in the region.
The Philippines and Japan, two of the United States’ closest Asian allies, have taken a strong line against what they see as aggressive behavior by Chinese vessels amid decades-old disputes over maritime sovereignty.
Last month, China and the Philippines traded accusations over a collision in the disputed waters of the South China Sea as Chinese vessels blocked Philippine boats supplying forces there.
