As reported, the U.S. and Russia have announced a joint commitment to find a political solution to resolve the crisis in Syria. In a recent visit to Russia, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian President Vladimir Putin identified common national interests in the region. In order to achieve their national interests, peace and stability in Syria is vital to both countries.
Since the conflict erupted in Syria, relations between the Cold-War rivals have become estranged. Now these two countries are set to overcome their differences and work together to resolve the crisis. This is a sign that they are back on track to renew their relationship that was effectively reset in 2009 under the leadership of Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev.
In 2009 both the Russian and U.S. Governments deemed it necessary to reset relations. Hilary Clinton stood in front of the media with her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and symbolically pushed a red button with the word "RESET" written across it. Embarrassingly, reset was translated to "overload", but this didn’t stop the ambitious plan of embarking on a fresh start between the countries.
As promised to Dimitri Medvedev, the Obama Administration was happy to maintain friendly relations with Russia after the November elections, which Putin controversially won. Notably since the reset, trade between the two countries has risen and security issues seem to have abated.
The question, given the rekindled cooperation between the U.S. and Russia, is what does this detente signify for a potential reset between U.S. and Chinese relations? And would this have the required impact of stabilising the Asian Pacific region?
Many observers believe that since the end of 2009, the United States and China have drifted apart. They associate this decline in relations to the Obama administration’s pivot or rebalancing to Asia, which the communist government in China considers too aggressive and, in fact, a disguise to counterbalance its rising power and influence in the region. As a result, Beijing’s charm offensive has seemingly come to an abrupt end. This has led to growing strategic distrust between both governments and has resulted in an escalation in regional security disputes.
While the motivations to reset relations between the U.S. and China is similar to those of the reset between the U.S. and Russia (ensuring peace between the countries, improving trade, etc.), U.S. interests in the two regions are quite different.
Washington decided that with larger issues in Asia and in the Middle East, bickering with Moscow was only a disruption. At the same time, the U.S. sought to keep Eastern Europe appeased by offering them private assurances; when push comes to shove it is unlikely that the U.S. will support Poland and its neighbors in any gas pricing or other such disputes with Russia.
Realizing this is the case, 22 leading figures, including Poland’s Lech Walesa and the Czech Republic’s Vaclav Havel responded by publishing an open letter to the Obama administration, begging Obama not to forget them. They wrote, “Our region is one part of the world that Americans have largely stopped worrying about.”
This is in contrast to Washington’s open support towards countries in the Asian Pacific region as China continues to flex its muscles and threaten countries in the South and East China Sea, including Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Taiwan. It is important to note that these countries are all close allies of the U.S. In a visit to Japan in April this year, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced that "The United States is fully committed to the defence of Japan". The U.S. also announced an increase in their military presence in the Philippines in December last year. This includes expanding the number of troops, aircraft and ships around the islands. Additionally, in 2012 the U.S. deepened military ties with Vietnam. Taking everything into account, the U.S. is planning on deploying 60 percent of its Navy to the Pacific.
However, it is policy like this that has China’s government concerned, and has in turn strained relations between the two powers. Current U.S. policy has rendered the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) as the Pentagon’s default opponent. As mentioned above, many observers believe the “pivot” towards Asia has added fuel to the fire and that by continuing this policy will only inspire resentment and nationalism in China.
Analysts critical of this move maintain that the Obama administration’s “pivot” to Asia has placed too much importance on the military and security aspects of the pivot. Obama has a lot to do in his second term in order to return to a balance.
The U.S. needs to reflect on its current policy towards China. A reset between China and U.S. relations appears to be a viable solution moving forward. The first step should involve changing perceptions of China. Instead of fearing its rise, the U.S. Government should emphasize the benefits of engaging with this ever-growing economic powerhouse. For instance, more effort should be placed on economic trade and cultural exchanges.
Donald Gross, author of The China Fallacy: How the U.S. Can Benefit from China’s Rise and Avoid Another Cold War, is adamant that current U.S. security policy, seemingly recycled from the Cold War, is forsaking potential economic benefits not only for the U.S. Government, but also American businesses and investors. Instead, a new agreement needs to be developed that will encapsulate a desire to build constructive strategic dialogue. Similarly, it must find solutions to outstanding economic and security disputes that exist between the two countries. Donald Gross also asserts that more constructive discussions with Chinese leaders may have a positive impact on human rights and democracy in China.
Any reset in U.S.-China relations requires the creation of a new diplomatic architecture which encourages economic engagement via a commitment to open trade, rather than reverting to protectionism. Added to this should be a call for further military cooperation and transparency between the two countries.
Military-to-military cooperation seems crucial for any future policy. This will go a long way in minimizing any strategic misinterpretations on both sides. Such military exercises like the counter-piracy exercise in the Gulf of Aden and the upcoming 2014 Pacific Rim Exercise are all important steps in building necessary trust between the two governments.
Last month, in a much-anticipated trip, Australia’s Prime Minister Julia Gillard visited China to engage China’s leaders in what has evolved into an annual high level strategic dialogue. Discussions covered an array of topics surrounding trade and included talks concerning upcoming joint military exercises. In addition, Australia recently released the much-waited Australian Defence White Paper, which contained quite a different tone towards China when compared to the 2009 white paper. Overall, it was more accepting of China’s rise in power.
It is now Obama’s turn to weigh in and adopt a new approach in calming tensions and building constructive relations between the two great powers to avoid a zero-sum game. He should instead develop a policy that will foster positive outcomes from engaging in trade and security cooperation. As the two most powerful countries in the world, it is fundamental that any misperceptions are avoided in order to prevent a power conflict. Rather, the two must work together to create a new great power alliance built on mutual understanding.
Therefore, the U.S. needs to reconsider its current policy stance towards China. A symbolic reset in China and U.S. relations appears a viable solution. However, as a result of Obama's reset with Russia, Eastern Europe was sidelined and isolated so as to not cause problems with Moscow. In contrast any reset with China should not involve sidelining America’s allies such as Japan, Vietnam, Philippines, and Taiwan. Instead the U.S. should play a lead role in developing a new framework for the region which encourages greater collaboration, more dialogue, and diplomacy between the aforementioned countries.
If the reset is successfully implemented perhaps in the future we will see China and the U.S. working together hand-in-hand to resolve international conflicts and crises.
Jonathon Cini is a regular contributor for Wikistrat on its Asia Pacific and European desks. In addition, he is a graduate from the Freie Universitaet in Berlin where he completed a M.A. in International Relations. Jonathon is also founder of the geopolitical website "Le Salon Politique" and has articles published in the International Security Observer and Business Review Europe.
Photo: Pete Souza, Official White House Photo.
a global affairs media network
U.S.-China 'Reset'
May 24, 2013
As reported, the U.S. and Russia have announced a joint commitment to find a political solution to resolve the crisis in Syria. In a recent visit to Russia, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian President Vladimir Putin identified common national interests in the region. In order to achieve their national interests, peace and stability in Syria is vital to both countries.
Since the conflict erupted in Syria, relations between the Cold-War rivals have become estranged. Now these two countries are set to overcome their differences and work together to resolve the crisis. This is a sign that they are back on track to renew their relationship that was effectively reset in 2009 under the leadership of Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev.
In 2009 both the Russian and U.S. Governments deemed it necessary to reset relations. Hilary Clinton stood in front of the media with her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and symbolically pushed a red button with the word "RESET" written across it. Embarrassingly, reset was translated to "overload", but this didn’t stop the ambitious plan of embarking on a fresh start between the countries.
As promised to Dimitri Medvedev, the Obama Administration was happy to maintain friendly relations with Russia after the November elections, which Putin controversially won. Notably since the reset, trade between the two countries has risen and security issues seem to have abated.
The question, given the rekindled cooperation between the U.S. and Russia, is what does this detente signify for a potential reset between U.S. and Chinese relations? And would this have the required impact of stabilising the Asian Pacific region?
Many observers believe that since the end of 2009, the United States and China have drifted apart. They associate this decline in relations to the Obama administration’s pivot or rebalancing to Asia, which the communist government in China considers too aggressive and, in fact, a disguise to counterbalance its rising power and influence in the region. As a result, Beijing’s charm offensive has seemingly come to an abrupt end. This has led to growing strategic distrust between both governments and has resulted in an escalation in regional security disputes.
While the motivations to reset relations between the U.S. and China is similar to those of the reset between the U.S. and Russia (ensuring peace between the countries, improving trade, etc.), U.S. interests in the two regions are quite different.
Washington decided that with larger issues in Asia and in the Middle East, bickering with Moscow was only a disruption. At the same time, the U.S. sought to keep Eastern Europe appeased by offering them private assurances; when push comes to shove it is unlikely that the U.S. will support Poland and its neighbors in any gas pricing or other such disputes with Russia.
Realizing this is the case, 22 leading figures, including Poland’s Lech Walesa and the Czech Republic’s Vaclav Havel responded by publishing an open letter to the Obama administration, begging Obama not to forget them. They wrote, “Our region is one part of the world that Americans have largely stopped worrying about.”
This is in contrast to Washington’s open support towards countries in the Asian Pacific region as China continues to flex its muscles and threaten countries in the South and East China Sea, including Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Taiwan. It is important to note that these countries are all close allies of the U.S. In a visit to Japan in April this year, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced that "The United States is fully committed to the defence of Japan". The U.S. also announced an increase in their military presence in the Philippines in December last year. This includes expanding the number of troops, aircraft and ships around the islands. Additionally, in 2012 the U.S. deepened military ties with Vietnam. Taking everything into account, the U.S. is planning on deploying 60 percent of its Navy to the Pacific.
However, it is policy like this that has China’s government concerned, and has in turn strained relations between the two powers. Current U.S. policy has rendered the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) as the Pentagon’s default opponent. As mentioned above, many observers believe the “pivot” towards Asia has added fuel to the fire and that by continuing this policy will only inspire resentment and nationalism in China.
Analysts critical of this move maintain that the Obama administration’s “pivot” to Asia has placed too much importance on the military and security aspects of the pivot. Obama has a lot to do in his second term in order to return to a balance.
The U.S. needs to reflect on its current policy towards China. A reset between China and U.S. relations appears to be a viable solution moving forward. The first step should involve changing perceptions of China. Instead of fearing its rise, the U.S. Government should emphasize the benefits of engaging with this ever-growing economic powerhouse. For instance, more effort should be placed on economic trade and cultural exchanges.
Donald Gross, author of The China Fallacy: How the U.S. Can Benefit from China’s Rise and Avoid Another Cold War, is adamant that current U.S. security policy, seemingly recycled from the Cold War, is forsaking potential economic benefits not only for the U.S. Government, but also American businesses and investors. Instead, a new agreement needs to be developed that will encapsulate a desire to build constructive strategic dialogue. Similarly, it must find solutions to outstanding economic and security disputes that exist between the two countries. Donald Gross also asserts that more constructive discussions with Chinese leaders may have a positive impact on human rights and democracy in China.
Any reset in U.S.-China relations requires the creation of a new diplomatic architecture which encourages economic engagement via a commitment to open trade, rather than reverting to protectionism. Added to this should be a call for further military cooperation and transparency between the two countries.
Military-to-military cooperation seems crucial for any future policy. This will go a long way in minimizing any strategic misinterpretations on both sides. Such military exercises like the counter-piracy exercise in the Gulf of Aden and the upcoming 2014 Pacific Rim Exercise are all important steps in building necessary trust between the two governments.
Last month, in a much-anticipated trip, Australia’s Prime Minister Julia Gillard visited China to engage China’s leaders in what has evolved into an annual high level strategic dialogue. Discussions covered an array of topics surrounding trade and included talks concerning upcoming joint military exercises. In addition, Australia recently released the much-waited Australian Defence White Paper, which contained quite a different tone towards China when compared to the 2009 white paper. Overall, it was more accepting of China’s rise in power.
It is now Obama’s turn to weigh in and adopt a new approach in calming tensions and building constructive relations between the two great powers to avoid a zero-sum game. He should instead develop a policy that will foster positive outcomes from engaging in trade and security cooperation. As the two most powerful countries in the world, it is fundamental that any misperceptions are avoided in order to prevent a power conflict. Rather, the two must work together to create a new great power alliance built on mutual understanding.
Therefore, the U.S. needs to reconsider its current policy stance towards China. A symbolic reset in China and U.S. relations appears a viable solution. However, as a result of Obama's reset with Russia, Eastern Europe was sidelined and isolated so as to not cause problems with Moscow. In contrast any reset with China should not involve sidelining America’s allies such as Japan, Vietnam, Philippines, and Taiwan. Instead the U.S. should play a lead role in developing a new framework for the region which encourages greater collaboration, more dialogue, and diplomacy between the aforementioned countries.
If the reset is successfully implemented perhaps in the future we will see China and the U.S. working together hand-in-hand to resolve international conflicts and crises.
Jonathon Cini is a regular contributor for Wikistrat on its Asia Pacific and European desks. In addition, he is a graduate from the Freie Universitaet in Berlin where he completed a M.A. in International Relations. Jonathon is also founder of the geopolitical website "Le Salon Politique" and has articles published in the International Security Observer and Business Review Europe.
Photo: Pete Souza, Official White House Photo.
