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 Guest Commentary
April 13, 2001
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Time for Realism in U.S.-China Relations
The Honorable Jon Kyl
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The recent standoff with China over our reconnaissance plane and crew has brought U.S. relations with that country to center-stage in American foreign policy. The episode illustrates the need to be clear-eyed in our dealings with China. We should not allow the considerable potential trade opportunities to blind us to other more troubling factors.
The Chinese government's refusal to adhere to internationally-recognized norms of behavior and its failure to release our crew for nearly two weeks are not entirely out of character for that communist regime. The Chinese government has a deplorable human rights record, a history of irresponsible technology sales to rogue states in violation of international agreements, has adopted a belligerent attitude toward its neighbors, and routinely uses threatening rhetoric aimed at the United States and Taiwan. China presents a challenge to the United States; and while our long-term goal should be to live in peace and prosperity with the Chinese people, we must deal with this emerging power in a way that maintains our security by dealing candidly and strongly with some of the troubling aspects of its behavior.
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One serious concern is China's rapid steps to modernize its military. The immediate focus of this modernization is to enhance the capabilities and survivability of its strategic nuclear forces, and to build a military force capable of subduing Taiwan swiftly enough to prevent American intervention. Beijing's efforts are geared toward increasing its ability to blockade Taiwan or to disrupt sea lanes near the island, developing the ability to establish air superiority over the Taiwan Strait, and increasing its missile force facing the United States and Taiwan.
The questions we confront are how to deter an attack on Taiwan and how to defend our forces which would be deployed in the area. By increasing the preparedness of Taiwan's defense forces, we can decrease the chances that the United States will need to become involved in a conflict in the Taiwan Strait, or that such a conflict will occur in the first place. Taiwan has submitted its official request for approximately 30 defensive military items which it would like to purchase from the United States, and later this month the Administration is expected to decide which items will be sold. All of the requests, in my opinion, should be approved, provided they are necessary for Taiwan to defend itself. In particular, Taiwan's need for Aegis destroyers to defend against China's developing air and naval threats is clear. In addition, Taiwan needs new submarines to supplement its meager fleet of four, in comparison to China's sixty-five.
We also need to work toward the development and deployment of a missile defense system to ensure that the United States is not susceptible to blackmail by China, intended to freeze the United States into inaction by threat of missile attack. We currently have no defense against a missile attack from China, or any of the countries it has assisted in developing a long-range missile capability.
Finally, it is important for the United States to maintain close ties to democratic allies in the region, like Japan. These allies share concerns about China and are a critical part of efforts to positively influence China's evolution.
Winston Churchill once said, "Our difficulties and dangers will not be removed by closing our eyes to them. They will not be removed by mere waiting to see what happens; nor will they be removed by a policy of appeasement."
We should remember this in our dealings with China. What is needed is a clear-eyed, more realistic approach to our complex relationship. Let us not risk underestimating China's intentions or capabilities, potentially finding ourselves in the midst of a conflict we could have prevented.
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Jon Kyl, a Republican, is a U.S. Senator from Arizona. The above commentary has been adapted from Sen. Kyl's weekly column, April 13, 2001. To contact him, Click Here.
The above column has been distributed by PoliticsOL.com.
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