The trade ties between China and United States is not only deteriorating but it seems that probably it is drifting towards new military confrontation in the region as well. Last month Pantagon has confirmed that the Chinese government has cancelled the visit of Chinese high officials which was suppose to visit Washington led by Chinese naval chief.
The American officials also discribed that the Chinese authorities also refused to give permission to the US Naval war ship to visit Taiwan. The Chinese regime also warns trump administration not to sell “million dollar military euipments” to Taiwan. The Chinese foreign ministry also warns United States that if United States will not review its policy to militarize Taiwan then washigton-Beijing relations will definitely effect in a very serious manner.
It is also a fact that United States has not diplomatic or official ties with the democratic government of Taiwan but according to American Law United States can support Taiwan militarily in its defence.
The sudden trade rift between United States and People’s Republic of China erupted when both countries decided to impose heavy trade tarriffs on each other’s imports. The Chinese officials has already made it clear that china will not negotitate with united states to resolve trade disputes in the present hostile conditions which was in fact created by united states itself.
On the other hand United States has severly blamed China for interfering rather unfairly pursuing international trade agreements and pressurising American companies to have an access in Chinese market in return of Chinese assess to modern American technology. United States declared this Chinese act “very aggressive” in fact a brutal strategy to get hold on advance American technology.
Due to current trade conflict between China and United States now its very unforunate that now United States is in a no position to use Chinese regional influence to stop North Korean nuclear program and the nuclear installations in the Korean peninsula.
In the recent session of the General Assembly president Trump appreciated the efforts of the Chinese president in addressing “North Korean nuclear Program” in the region. But at the same time President Trump also blamed the Chinese government for cutting down American jobs and unfairly using international trade laws to further increase American trade deficit. President Trump also blamed Chinese governemnt in interfering in the recent past US presidential elections through print media in which the policies of the possible future Trump administration was brutally criticized.
In early October the American military officials blamed Chinese naval war ship for threatening American air craft career when it was passing through South China Sea, in fact challanging the regional hagemony of China in South China Sea and in the whole region.
In the same early week of October Beijing also post poned very important high officials security meeting between China and United states in which American defence secretray james meats was expecting to participate. During his visit to Paris James meats also confessed the deteriorating relations between the two nations but at the same time he was pretty much sure that relationswill not further deteriorate. He also said that we are learning how we can normalize our relations and the current crisis will be over very soon.
This recent trade disputes and military adventure in the region will not serve the interests of both super powers. Now it’s time for the both countries to settle, all their outstanding disputes through negotiations not only for the regional stability but for the international peace and security as well.
The recent military escalation started when the American naval war ship equiped with “Lazor Guided Missile” was passing through the South China Sea, in fact challanging the naval supeiority of China in the presence of Chinese military installations in the disputed “Spratlys” island.
According to American officials the US Naval war ship Dictator Equipped with lazor guided missiles completed 12 notical mile navigation in 10 hours around the several islands in the region. The pantagon also disclosed that one of the Chinese naval war ships came very close to US Dictator in a very unconventional manner. It further escalated the situation in the region.
Keeping in view the international law on “freedom of navigation” United States and its allies often visits these islands situated in South China Sea where Chinese has already built very strong naval forts and military installations.
On the other hand Trump administration also issued a very serious statement against Iran declaring that its policies are against the international peace and security but now it seems that United States is reducing its naval forces in the Persian Gulf for another perhaps more dangerous possible front.
In recent march, keeping in view the new possible threats the US Air craft career “Theodore Roosevelt” was sent to Pacific. Since then there was no air craft carrier in the Persian Gulf. It was for the first time in the last two decades that not even a single air craft career navigates in the Persian Gulf. Perhaps it was due to the new American “security strategy” which considers China and Russia a great threat than Iran in the Persian Gulf. Perhaps that is why the US Defence Secretary James meats decided to shift “defence systems” equiped with “patriotic missiles” from middle east to Russia and China.
This recent trade disputes and military adventure in the region will not serve the interests of both super powers. Now its time for theboth countries to settle, all their outstanding disputes through negotiationsnot only for the regional stability but for the international peace and security as well.
Now it’s also a time for the other international actors to solve their regional and international disputes in a peaceful manner so that a” common strategy” should be evolved to eliminate extremism and terrorism for the more peaceful and prosperous world.
The writer is Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, FC College University
Published in Daily Times, October 29th 2018.