Sunday, April 27, 2008

Improving Relations With China's Neighbors

How should the US view China's developing relations with her neighbors? Should the US modify its foreign policy toward these same nations in light of their changing Relationships with China?

Clearly, the US must encourage relations that serve to reduce security concerns and improve the economic well-being of all parties involved. From stability comes peace, and it is in everybody's best interests for China to maintain peaceful relationships with her neighbors. By the same token, the US must discourage hostile overtures from China to her weaker neighbors.

The US is already actively participating in China's huge economic growth by opening manufacturing concerns that employ thousands of Chinese workers at a fraction of the US labor cost. India has the next great opportunity for growth as the US is poised to take advantage of the low cost of manufacturing in that country (possibly at China's expense?).

Since some of China's neighbors have Muslim populations, the US would do well to reconsider its position on Iraq. Improved relationships and an end to hostilities in this country could only help improve the relations with China's neighbors, and perhaps influence China to stop persecuting its own Muslim population.

2 comments:

Thomas C. said...

Susan,

I agree that the U.S. must reconsider its position in Iraq and with the Muslim community as a whole. What is the solution? I do not know. I do know that the U.S. and China are joined at the hip in the war on terrorism. This bond is created in part by the world's misunderstanding of both nations and both nation's misunderstanding of the world, i.e. the Muslim community. You are correct, "peace" is in the best interest of both countries and promoting peace in the region should be important to both of these super powers.

Tom

Anonymous said...

It's the end of the semester and I don't feel like I commented much on your work...your writing was clear and straightforward and I hope to "see" you again.