Let's be friends

Why?

Given the increasing hostile mood in Congress toward Beijing, it’s no surprise that this case is becoming heavily politicized. I can see it now: equally cynical members from both sides of the aisle swearing that we have a clear and present danger on our hands. Then the demands that we bolster sales of AGEIS Destroyers and F-16 to Taiwan and that we ought to get rid of the impediments to Japan developing its own military.

But America, I promise that we’re going to be ok. I mean yes if it hold that CNOOC is debt financing their acquisition of Unocal with heavily subsidized Chinese government loans, the dispute ought to be taken to the WTO for review. As I see it, yeah I think their might be something a little fishy when your government more or less is picking up part of your tab.

But as the Lou Doubs of this world will suggest that this is all a conspiracy to outsource American jobs and the Pat Buchanans out there will implore the government put up an electric fence around the border and Wall Street, I think these debates will miss the point about what’s really going on. In fact the proposed CNOOC’s acquisition of UNOCAL is one of the many examples of today's changing world.

One doesn't have to go far to realize that money matters in this case like it usually always does, but this is about more than that. It's about power and influence. It's about how China is learning to deal with the envious (and nervous), to be able to exert its mussel in a world that increasing looks at it with suspicion. It's about the fear of losing power and influence too. A role the US has at times tacitly accepted in order to keep a happy China at bay, and at times vociferously resisted.

One thing is for sure: China is not going anywhere anytime soon. Taking absolutist stances and making impossible demands won’t work (Hence I was a little wary when Secretary of Commerce Gutierrez hinted at such demands toward China recently). It would be best if our leaders not lead us to an adversarial relationship with China, but rather continue to work with them, no matter if it is painfully politically in the short-run.