Kuwait Times

US-China rifts widen despite economic headway

Ambitious economic plans fail to hide issues between superpower­s

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Three months after US President Donald Trump hosted a lavish welcome for his Chinese counterpar­t Xi Jinping at his Florida resort, the powers have made headway on an ambitious economic plan even as diplomatic rifts between them have widened. Speaking in Paris on Thursday, the American leader was full of praise for Xi, proclaimin­g him a “friend” for whom he has “great respect”, a “great leader” and a “very talented man.”

The expression­s of admiration have gone both ways-a day earlier Beijing’s foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang had hailed “positive advances” in ChinaUS economic cooperatio­n based on a spirit of “consensus” between the two leaders. Both sides see moderate progress on a wide-ranging 100day economic action plan, first unveiled at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in April that covers such areas as financial services, investment, energy and trade-a topic close to the US president’s heart.

Evans Revere, an analyst at Brookings Institutio­n, told AFP: “Both sides seem to share the view that the 100-day plan is largely on track.” Jake Parker, vice president of the US-China Business Council in Beijing, largely agreed: “Overall, the 100-day outcomes are positive first steps addressing lingering issues in the US-China commercial relationsh­ip,” he said, while adding that more needed to be done to address structural issues such as foreign investment restrictio­ns.

But despite the effusive rhetoric, that progress has not been matched in other areas of the relationsh­ip with ever widening rifts on a host of foreign policy issues. The US appears bitterly disappoint­ed over China’s failure to exert pressure on North Korea in the wake of its first ever interconti­nental ballistic missile test, while Beijing has been left fuming at American incursions into disputed territory in the South China Sea, arms sales to Taiwan and statements on human rights.

Chinese bogeyman

Trump made China a central part of his presidenti­al campaign, denouncing the country for unfair trading practices that cost Americans jobs and accusing it of manipulati­ng its currency. Since becoming president, however, he has taken an about turn on the currency issue and in May announced a deal to export American beef and gas to China in the hope of reducing a massive trade deficit that totaled $347 billion in 2016.

These first results from the 100day plan will likely be feted at the US-China Comprehens­ive Economic Dialogue that will be held on July 19 in Washington, hosted by US treasury and commerce secretarie­s Steven Mnuchin and Wilbur Ross and Chinese vice premier Wang Yang. But in other contentiou­s areas of the relationsh­ip-tensions in the Korean peninsula, China’s maritime disputes with its neighbors, Taiwan and human rights-”the two sides are far apart,” says Revere.

The US has scolded Beijing for not putting enough pressure on North Korea, which increased trade with its key diplomatic backer by 10.5 percent in the first half of this year. The July 4 launch of an ICBM by Pyongyang signaled that Trump’s “naive experiment regarding China and North Korea is now coming to an end,” said Revere, vindicatin­g foreign policy experts’ skepticism towards relying on Beijing to rein in its neighbor.

Patience evaporatin­g

As evidence of the shift, Revere cited US sanctions on Chinese entities such as the Bank of Dandong, which is accused of illicit dealings with companies linked to the weapons program, days before the launch. Tensions have also been stoked by the passage of a US warship near a reef claimed by Beijing in May and two B-1 bombers over disputed waters in July, acts denounced by China as grave military and political provocatio­ns.

Washington meanwhile approved a $1.3 billion arms deal to Taiwan, an island which Beijing considers a rebel province awaiting reunificat­ion. The developmen­ts appeared to have been acknowledg­ed by Geng Shuang as “negative factors” in the relationsh­ip brought about by “actions of the US.” On the thorny question of human rights, statements from the US State Department have come pouring incalling on China to respect Hong Kong’s freedoms, desist its crackdown on lawyers, or condemning Beijing for the death in custody Nobel peace prize winner Liu Xiaobo. As for Trump’s continuing habit of praising the Chinese leader, Revere believes it stems largely from “a desire to keep the door open in case Beijing changes its posture visa-vis North Korea, as well as to try to keep the US-China relationsh­ip on a steady course.” — AFP

 ??  ?? ANDHRA PRADESH: In this picture taken on July 15, 2017 an Indian farmer (R) sells papayas along a highway road in Guntur District, in the Southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.—AFP
ANDHRA PRADESH: In this picture taken on July 15, 2017 an Indian farmer (R) sells papayas along a highway road in Guntur District, in the Southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.—AFP
 ??  ?? BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Canada’s Governor General David Johnston (not pictured) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. — AFP
BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Canada’s Governor General David Johnston (not pictured) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. — AFP

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