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Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Barrack Obama met for their much hyped summit in Washington D.C. in September with a laundry list of items to discuss and likely had hoped to find common ground. This was possible on many issues including climate change, humanitarian relief, and people to people exchanges among several others. However, the two sides were still far apart on the two major issues that have caused cleavages to develop between the two powers as of late: cyber security and territorial disputes in the South China Sea. This reality can currently be interpreted in two ways: either one sees the glass as half full given the several agreements concluded between the two countries; or the glass is half empty with two critical issues keeping the two powers at odds. So, at least for the time being, the beauty of this relationship will be left to the eye of the beholder. In the following we have summarized key issue areas emphasized by the U.S. and China during September 2015.
Seeking Agreement on Cyber Security and Defense
Cyber security was the central issue of the month and commanded a great deal of attention during the summit. The U.S. constantly mentioned that it was aware of Chinese attempts of cyber espionage targeting U.S. companies and citizens for financial gain and that it stood firmly against it. In response, China stated that they had also fallen victim to cyber threats, and that the U.S. should refrain from accusing China of cyber espionage, and further suggested that the two sides should instead cooperate to solve the issue. During President Xi’s visit to the U.S. at the end of the month, both sides agreed that they would commit to tackling the issue of domestic and transnational illegal cyber activity.
Furthermore, both sides acknowledged the improvement of military relations. The Chinese mentioned that the two militaries had conducted frequent high-level visits and maintained close communication on important, strategic and directional issues. At the same time, the U.S. acknowledged enhanced military relations by mentioning that the two sides had completed new annexes on air-to-air safety and crisis communication.
Islamic State, the Syrian Civil War, and the Refugees Issue
The U.S. and China both showed concern over events in the Middle East, and more specifically with the fight against IS, the Syrian civil war, and the refugees leaving Syria because of it. Regarding the fight against IS and the Syrian Civil War, the U.S. was wary of Russian involvement in the region seemingly aimed at bolstering Assad’s regime. The U.S. government also stressed the humanitarian aid being contributed to the refugees, and also pledged to increase the number of refugees taken from the region to a minimum of 10,000 people in the next fiscal year. At the beginning of the month, China criticized U.S.-led coalition policies in the Middle East and stressed the need for the U.S. to take responsibility for solving both the IS and the refugee problems that it says were a result of the U.S. led coalition actions in the Middle East. Toward the end of the month, China began to express more willingness to become involved in efforts to stabilize Syria, but proposed a stronger focus on political solutions and the will of the Syrian people, rather than military intervention. The U.S. and China were able to cooperate successfully on the Iran nuclear agreement and continued cooperation on these other pressing issues in the Middle East would be a move welcomed by many.
Tensions Between U.S. and China over South China Sea
President Obama conveyed to President Xi his concern over land reclamation, construction, and militarization of South China sea areas at the U.S.-China summit. President Obama reiterated the U.S. position that it will not try to adjudicate claims, it has an interest in upholding the basic principles of freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce, and it prefers disputes to be resolved through international law. On the contrary, China continued to assert that, based on the historical and jurisprudential evidence, China’s construction on the Nansha Islands is legitimate, signifying that little progress had been made on the issue during the summit.
Cooperation in Denuclearization of Korean Peninsula
The U.S. and China reaffirmed joint efforts to realize denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula. The U.S. will not recognize North Korea as a nuclear weapon state, and is seeking the help of China, Russia, South Korea, and Japan in counteracting North Korea’s violation of the UN Security Council resolutions. China revealed their devotion to not only denuclearization but also maintaining peace on the Peninsula. The U.S. also acknowledged moves by the ROK government to improve relations with China and called close ties between the two countries “important to the region.”
Reactions to the Japan Security Bill and Renewed U.S.-India Partnership
While the U.S. welcomed Japan’s ongoing efforts to play a more active role in regional security through its new security bill, the Chinese media called the new legislation “a victory for just a few people but a seed of disaster for millions more.” China was also critical of Japan’s decision to receive Tsai Ing-wen, chairperson of the Taiwanese Democratic Progressive Party and likely next President of Taiwan. Elsewhere in Asia, the U.S. and Japan held the inaugural U.S.-India-Japan Trilateral Ministerial with the foreign affairs secretaries of each country in attendance and separately the U.S. and India held the first Strategic and Commercial Dialogue between the two countries signifying increased cooperation between the two countries.
Time Period: September 1 ~ September 30
1. U.S. – China Bilateral Relations: Run-up to and Outcomes of U.S.-China Bilateral Summit in Washington D.C.
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