JUST SHAKE ON IT
United States would be smart to strengthen ties with China, Arizona’s fourth-largest export destination
From President Nixon’s historic visit in 1972 to China today, the most populous nation on earth has come from being a greatly underdeveloped country to an international leader in just a few decades. ¶ The steadfast commitment of leaders from Washington and Beijing to avoid confrontation and seek areas of cooperation has led to a wide-ranging relationship that has benefited the citizens of both countries. ¶ Through continued cooperation and dialogue, a constructive bilateral relationship between United States and China has the people potential of of Arizona. benefiting billions of people around the globe, including the
China is a global player, and it’s here to stay
I first visited China in 1986 and I was struck by how poor the country was. The Communist economic system had failed to improve the quality of life for the vast majority of the population.
However, things changed in the early 1990s when China moved toward a market-based economic system. I returned to China for the fifth time recently with a delegation of former U.S. senators sponsored by the China-United States Exchange Foundation.
We traveled to Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai to meet with Chinese government officials, the U.S. Embassy in China, business leaders and thought leaders across the country. At a critical junction in U.S.-China relations, current points of tension were debated and potential opportunities were discussed.
An inevitable theme emerged during our visit. China has risen to the upper echelons of global power, and the country’s leaders and its people intend to stay there.
China knows its power brings responsibility
Hundreds of millions of Chinese are enjoying the results of a freer market economic system. Education, jobs, new housing, consumer products available at reasonable prices, some limited property rights; these changes have all benefited the general population.
While some may view China’s rise as confrontational, China has shown its willingness to accept the responsibilities attached with its newfound power, improving its increased compliance with the World Trade Organization and international laws regarding intellectual property, although there is still plenty room for improvement.
The United States should be willing to work with China to ensure that rules and norms of multilateral institutions are respected and accepted by all parties.
China is also the second-largest contributor to United Nations peacekeeping operations, behind only the United States, showing its commitment to peace and established international institutions.
China’s investment is everywhere in the U.S.
Bilaterally, China’s foreign direct investment in the U.S. has risen exponentially in recent years, hitting an all-time high in 2016 after surging 359 percent from the year before.
Chinese companies now employ more than 100,000 people in the United States. It is clear to me that such foreign investment in our country is beneficial to our standard of living and our businesses.
At the same time, China must and, I believe, will abide by U.S. laws governing such investments. Areas dealing with national security and monetary policies should and will always be monitored.
In Arizona, China is already the fourth-largest export destination, only behind neighboring Mexico, Canada and South Korea.
How Arizona can grow this opportunity
Chinese investments have begun to spread across the state. Tianshui Huatian’s somewhat recent acquisition of FlipChip International in Phoenix, a specialized semiconductor manufacturer that employs more than 150 people, is a prime example.
But agriculture, transportation and advanced technologies — some of Arizona’s most robust sectors — remain largely untapped sources of collaboration and investment from a China that increasingly engages with U.S. companies in these sectors across the country.
A more mutually beneficial relationship in recent years also has allowed for increased cultural and educational exchanges. Arizona State University now boasts the third most international students in the United States, with more than 35 percent of those students coming from China.
All of Arizona’s universities should continue to invite Chinese students to our state, as it will only deepen the relationship between our two countries.
It’s in our interest to be nice to China
While a positive relationship between with China should be integral to the foreign policy of our country, the new administration has encountered several challenges when dealing with the Middle Kingdom. At times striking a confrontational tone and describing China as taking advantage of the United States, President Trump’s comments have raised flags for China’s leadership.
Rather than breaking down existing areas of cooperation, both countries should broaden the breadth of their cooperation economically, militarily and culturally, given that international rules and laws are accepted and respected by all parties.
Barriers, physical or figurative, will not solve America’s problems nor make it greater. Cui Tiankai, China’s ambassador to the U.S., remarked while he was in Arizona, “We built a border fence to keep people out one time, and it didn’t work. But it has worked well as a tourist attraction.”
Moving forward, the United States should avoid the distraction of such barriers and focus on strengthening the many areas of cooperation and development with China. If China continues to play by the rules of international law, both countries will benefit. Dennis DeConcini is a former U.S. senator who represented Arizona from 1977 to 1995.