Topic: U.S. China Relations
We looked at images of the protests in Hong Kong to examine the magnitude of protests and how widespread they have become in such a short amount of time. The people in the protests are all different ages, and from all different walks of life.
Question: Do the Hong Kong protests symbolize the ideological divide between the U.S. and mainland China? Are they an isolated event, or do they reflect wider societal undercurrents in both Hong Kong and mainland China?
Points raised:
Question: Does this present an issue for China, or is it a representation of the East/West divide? Or is it both?
Points Raised:
Issues in Mainland China
Question and Group Discussion: What are opinions you have on U.S.-China relations? What are the “thorns” in those relationships? Where are there opportunities for growth?
Shared Ideas:
One Final Question: What is our future with China? Is it our role to impose? Separate but equal? Learn lessons from one another?
We looked at images of the protests in Hong Kong to examine the magnitude of protests and how widespread they have become in such a short amount of time. The people in the protests are all different ages, and from all different walks of life.
Question: Do the Hong Kong protests symbolize the ideological divide between the U.S. and mainland China? Are they an isolated event, or do they reflect wider societal undercurrents in both Hong Kong and mainland China?
Points raised:
- Government of China does not want images to spread - this could cause thoughts of and inspire revolutions within mainland China.
- CCP (Chinese Communist Party) wants to crack down protests with full power
- Hong Kong’s status presents problem to Chinese government. Very much in the public eye. Presents a different challenge than Shinjeong or Tibet.
- “The Legacy of Tiananmen” - no other option for Chinese government other than to not resist because of what happened in past - do not want to be criticized by constituents.
- A lot easier to suppress images than to suppress an entire movement
- Similar to last year protests in Taiwan - did die down, but over something similar - democratic ideology and student driven.
- Will protests die down if China does nothing?
- Protests spiraled because they started during a national holiday when no one was at work - dying down now because people are having to go back to their lives.
- If the protests go on, Hong Kong citizens will grow against protests.
- Clashes between pro-government and anti-government protesters.
- How does Hong Kong’s affluence play into the character of the protests?
- There have been huge protests in Hong Kong in the past. Covered heavily in eastern media, but rarely in West - that’s why this situation is different.
- Diversity of protests - business people as well as young students are involved → impossible to solve issues of entire protest base
- Difference is because of the topic - this time, it’s about democracy and voting rights, not censorship.
Question: Does this present an issue for China, or is it a representation of the East/West divide? Or is it both?
Points Raised:
- Whether Chinese government likes it or not, it is a move towards more democratic and capitalistic ideals.
- This distinction is important: capitalism has been embraced, but democracy has not up to this point.
Issues in Mainland China
Question and Group Discussion: What are opinions you have on U.S.-China relations? What are the “thorns” in those relationships? Where are there opportunities for growth?
Shared Ideas:
- One area of controversy: The U.S. support of China’s rivals (Japan, Vietnam) through both diplomacy and money. China still views Japan as an enemy (because of WWII). Tension between these two countries. U.S. is clearly supporting Japan.
- Has there been a shift away from this? Maybe. But we recently sold weapons to Vietnam.
- Paracel and Spratly Islands. If you claim islands, you can get 200 miles in any direction of land claims. There is oil in this area of the sea. Therefore, these otherwise irrelevant islands become very important. 40% of maritime trade passes through South China Sea - trillions of dollars a year. Control over this route is essential.
- Prisoner’s Dilemma? If one nation enters these waters, so does everyone else and then everyone is left worse off. Tragedy of the Commons.
- Should we view issue of maritime control from China’s perspective?
- Is this a battle of U.S. vs. China? We do control sea area from Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand
- Most active disputes: Scarborough Shoal, Spratly Islands, Paracel Islands
- China is asserting themselves in parts of Africa. What does this mean for those governments? Is the West seeing this as a threat?
- China gives money to African countries’ governments, who keep the money instead of giving it to the people. → criticism.
- One option: put tensions aside for countries that could use infrastructural support in order to increase relations between U.S. and China.
- Example of Eisenhower’s “Atoms for Peace” speech challenging Russia to use nuclear energy responsible. Can this situation echo the same kind of ideals?
- Does continued investment in Africa create fears that China is trying to expand?
- Dissent over String of Pearls ports throughout Southern Asia
- Business relations hindered by environmental state of China
- Censorship also a hindrance
- How can business relations be both a thorn and an opportunity in U.S.-Chinese relations?
- Issue of undervaluing yuan - attracts investment, have countries export jobs to China
One Final Question: What is our future with China? Is it our role to impose? Separate but equal? Learn lessons from one another?
- Possibility for tensions, but they are too economically dependent. We have too many common interests
- Differences in ideology keep us separate at least for the time being. China wants to be the best, so they will be pushing the envelope to become that. However, a “clash” is not likely because our economies are so dependent on one another.
- U.S. does have an interest in diversifying - India.
- In our mutual best interest to find a situation in which both of us are world powers.