How Nepal can benefit from US-China partnership
Yuba Nath Lamsal
How Nepal can benefit from US-China partnershipYuba Nath LamsalFormer Chinese Premier Zhu Rongii once remarked, "US-China relations can never be wonderful but they really cannot collapse". Although he made these remarks more than a decade ago, they still hold true even today given the complicated yet intertwined nature of US-China relations. But things are moving much more ahead than Zhu's period as China's premiership that was between 1998 and 2003.The latest developments that have unfolded in the international arena are the pointer to the fact that the United States of America and China are getting closer and are in the process of building stronger partnership. Be it the exchanges of high-level visits or joint military exercises or trade and economic cooperation between these two countries, the indications are that Washington under Obama presidency has given additional priority to the relationship with Beijing and its cooperation in tackling several nagging issues that have afflicted the entire humanity. The days are gone for Washington to look to Europe to shape its foreign and other policies. Asia is now on the global spotlight that has changed the international way of thinking. It is mainly because of the rise of Asian countries in terms of economic growth and military strength accompanied by their growing international clout as well as their increased assertiveness. To be more specific, the spectacular rise of China has not only boosted Beijing's international clout but also drawn attention of all international powers to Asia in general and China in particular. The international powers are now keen to work and cooperate closely and in partnership with Beijing in various fronts.The recent strategic and economic dialogue between the United States and China that took place in Washington DC on May 9 and 10 is a symbolic instance of China's rising significance and role in the internal arena. This has reinforced the necessity of closer and stronger cooperation and partnership between the world's two largest economies for creating better and safer world. This was the third strategic and economic dialogue as a continuation of bilateral process initiated three years ago. The Strategic and Economic dialogue is a bilateral forum created in 1999 to discuss ways to work together and enhance the bilateral economic relationship and pragmatic cooperation between Washington and Beijing.At the end of the dialogue, an accord was signed to further facilitate bilateral cooperation on economic and military affairs between the world's two giants. Both Washington and Beijing have described the accord as a milestone in the bilateral relations between the two countries. After intense debate and painstaking negotiation on several nagging issues, the American and Chinese delegates finally reached a conclusion that the two countries had no alternative other than cooperating with one another in the present global context. Earlier in January, Chinese President Hu Jintao had visited the United States in which he held discussions with American leaders to facilitate a roadmap for US-China long-term strategic and economic partnership. The accord reached recently between the delegates of the two countries is the outcome of rapport President Hu's visit had built in Washington.The deal includes issues and arrangements for exchange of high level visits to enable both the countries to understand one another and explore more areas of mutual cooperation in various fields which is expected to usher in a new era in US-China relations and also a new opportunity for greater cooperation between the world's two largest economies.The Untied States and China have long been engaged in discussion and negotiation on bilateral, regional issues. Even during the cold War China and the United States cooperated one another on issues concerning international and regional security. Despite being a communist country, China stood firmly against hegemonic and expansionist policy that the erstwhile Soviet Union vigorously pursued that threatened security and independence of small, weaker and less developed countries in the world. In pursuit of protest against hegemonic policy of Soviet Union in East Asia and Afghanistan, Chinese and American policy matched which brought these two countries closer during the Cold War. After the end of the Cold War that has been marked by unipolar world, the relations between Beijing and Washington have continued to grow despite hiccups on certain issues. China and the US have differences on some areas but they have agreed to bury differences and cooperate on issues in which they have mutual understanding. China and the US are definitely competitors on many areas but at the same time they have expressed willingness to enhance mutual cooperation.The recent dialogue and accords are the testament of the fact that US and China, though competitors and rival on many counts, are willing to cooperate more than compete in areas ranging from economy to technology transfer and military exchange and cooperation. The new accord has sought to expand US access to Chinese market and Chinese access to American technology. Also in the military front, Washington and Beijing have agreed to exchange visits of top military officers and conduct joint exercises on different occasions.There are some passionate arguments on who needs whom the most. Some tend to believe that China needs America more than Washington needs Beijing. They argue that China is a developing economy requiring capital and technology and also market for its products for which United States is the center of attraction. America is the only superpower, largest economy, richest country capable to invest more in other countries and technologically most advanced country. If China has to sustain its economy and level of development, it must seek and get US support and cooperation. It is true to some extent but not as a whole. Until two decades ago, China was desperately needed American capital and technology but this situation no longer exists now.There is another school of thought that is equally strong and logical which advocates that it is the United States that needs China more than China needs the US in the present context. Until a decade ago, China was a poor and agrarian country with majority of its population living in absolute poverty and condition of backwardness. Now situation has undergone a sea change in China. Ever since China adopted economic reforms way back in 1978, China has achieved much higher economic growth and development attracting huge capital investment from various countries. Although there is a sizable American investment in China, American investment is smaller and less significant compared to that of other countries. In terms of volume and impact on Chinese economy, American investment ranks fifth. Much more investment has come from Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and the people across the Strait of Taiwan. Now China has huge fund and Beijing, instead, has invested in the United States more than Americans have done in China. This is the point some China experts make their basis to substantiate the argument that United States needs China more than Beijing needs Washington.Now China has emerged as the second largest economy and it has managed to keep afloat its economy despite great recession the world is facing. The United States has not yet recovered from the economic slump and Washington is seeking China's help for reviving American economy. Similar is the case with America's trade with China. The US has a huge trade deficit with China and Washington wants to bring it to balance through increased exports to China. Only last year, China's trade surplus with the United States stood over 44 billion US dollars. China's rapidly growing trade surplus and foreign reserves and also the growing US fiscal and trade deficits are the cause of global concerns as these issues are likely to have serious impact on the world economy.To reverse this trend, Washington needs to work with China in more cooperative way. These are the conditions that have brought these two great nations closer and make them work together for the mutual benefit. The question as to who needs whom is not important at this point. The reality is that both Washington and Beijing need one another. And on the basis of this ground reality and need of the hour, these two countries are working together and helping one another despite some political rhetoric that leaders of both the countries make on certain occasions. Such rhetorical expressions are meant for public consumption not for practical purpose. The relations between these two countries are, thus, based on pragmatism that benefits the both.Viewed from international and regional perspective, this is, indeed, a milestone arrangement that would ensure stability and security in the world in general and Asia in particular. The United States has already signed a strategic partnership and also civil nuclear cooperation deal with India, which has made New Delhi's arch rival Pakistan susceptible and has also irked Beijing and smaller South Asian countries including Nepal. Against this backdrop, the new deal with Beijing would help soothe the tension in the region and make South Asian countries comfortable in terms of security.The world is now scrambling to take benefit from the stunning growth and development of China. Unfortunately, Nepal, despite being the closest neighbor, has not worked towards this direction. Nepal can benefit a lot if we are able to take China into confidence and convince Beijing that its small southern neighbor means what it says. Now Nepal has credibility problem so far as Nepal's relations and cooperation with China are concerned. Nepali parties and government seem to be less aware of the recent developments in the international arena and also the developments in China. As a result, Nepal's dependence on India is increasing heavily and New Delhi is trying to reap political and strategic benefit out of this situation. China is growing in lips and bound and the fruit of China's development has already reached Tibet, thereby, totally changing the face of Tibet and Tibetan people. If Nepal assures China that it would be a dependable partner, China may be willing to invest more in Nepal and help reduce Nepal's heavy dependence on southern neighbor. China is definitely seeking a dependable partner and wants Nepal to be a strong, peaceful and stable nation for which, Beijing is always willing to support materially and morally. Only thing Nepal needs to do is that is has to demonstrate its credibility and firmness in its foreign policy and dealing with the neighbors.
How Nepal can benefit from US-China partnershipYuba Nath LamsalFormer Chinese Premier Zhu Rongii once remarked, "US-China relations can never be wonderful but they really cannot collapse". Although he made these remarks more than a decade ago, they still hold true even today given the complicated yet intertwined nature of US-China relations. But things are moving much more ahead than Zhu's period as China's premiership that was between 1998 and 2003.The latest developments that have unfolded in the international arena are the pointer to the fact that the United States of America and China are getting closer and are in the process of building stronger partnership. Be it the exchanges of high-level visits or joint military exercises or trade and economic cooperation between these two countries, the indications are that Washington under Obama presidency has given additional priority to the relationship with Beijing and its cooperation in tackling several nagging issues that have afflicted the entire humanity. The days are gone for Washington to look to Europe to shape its foreign and other policies. Asia is now on the global spotlight that has changed the international way of thinking. It is mainly because of the rise of Asian countries in terms of economic growth and military strength accompanied by their growing international clout as well as their increased assertiveness. To be more specific, the spectacular rise of China has not only boosted Beijing's international clout but also drawn attention of all international powers to Asia in general and China in particular. The international powers are now keen to work and cooperate closely and in partnership with Beijing in various fronts.The recent strategic and economic dialogue between the United States and China that took place in Washington DC on May 9 and 10 is a symbolic instance of China's rising significance and role in the internal arena. This has reinforced the necessity of closer and stronger cooperation and partnership between the world's two largest economies for creating better and safer world. This was the third strategic and economic dialogue as a continuation of bilateral process initiated three years ago. The Strategic and Economic dialogue is a bilateral forum created in 1999 to discuss ways to work together and enhance the bilateral economic relationship and pragmatic cooperation between Washington and Beijing.At the end of the dialogue, an accord was signed to further facilitate bilateral cooperation on economic and military affairs between the world's two giants. Both Washington and Beijing have described the accord as a milestone in the bilateral relations between the two countries. After intense debate and painstaking negotiation on several nagging issues, the American and Chinese delegates finally reached a conclusion that the two countries had no alternative other than cooperating with one another in the present global context. Earlier in January, Chinese President Hu Jintao had visited the United States in which he held discussions with American leaders to facilitate a roadmap for US-China long-term strategic and economic partnership. The accord reached recently between the delegates of the two countries is the outcome of rapport President Hu's visit had built in Washington.The deal includes issues and arrangements for exchange of high level visits to enable both the countries to understand one another and explore more areas of mutual cooperation in various fields which is expected to usher in a new era in US-China relations and also a new opportunity for greater cooperation between the world's two largest economies.The Untied States and China have long been engaged in discussion and negotiation on bilateral, regional issues. Even during the cold War China and the United States cooperated one another on issues concerning international and regional security. Despite being a communist country, China stood firmly against hegemonic and expansionist policy that the erstwhile Soviet Union vigorously pursued that threatened security and independence of small, weaker and less developed countries in the world. In pursuit of protest against hegemonic policy of Soviet Union in East Asia and Afghanistan, Chinese and American policy matched which brought these two countries closer during the Cold War. After the end of the Cold War that has been marked by unipolar world, the relations between Beijing and Washington have continued to grow despite hiccups on certain issues. China and the US have differences on some areas but they have agreed to bury differences and cooperate on issues in which they have mutual understanding. China and the US are definitely competitors on many areas but at the same time they have expressed willingness to enhance mutual cooperation.The recent dialogue and accords are the testament of the fact that US and China, though competitors and rival on many counts, are willing to cooperate more than compete in areas ranging from economy to technology transfer and military exchange and cooperation. The new accord has sought to expand US access to Chinese market and Chinese access to American technology. Also in the military front, Washington and Beijing have agreed to exchange visits of top military officers and conduct joint exercises on different occasions.There are some passionate arguments on who needs whom the most. Some tend to believe that China needs America more than Washington needs Beijing. They argue that China is a developing economy requiring capital and technology and also market for its products for which United States is the center of attraction. America is the only superpower, largest economy, richest country capable to invest more in other countries and technologically most advanced country. If China has to sustain its economy and level of development, it must seek and get US support and cooperation. It is true to some extent but not as a whole. Until two decades ago, China was desperately needed American capital and technology but this situation no longer exists now.There is another school of thought that is equally strong and logical which advocates that it is the United States that needs China more than China needs the US in the present context. Until a decade ago, China was a poor and agrarian country with majority of its population living in absolute poverty and condition of backwardness. Now situation has undergone a sea change in China. Ever since China adopted economic reforms way back in 1978, China has achieved much higher economic growth and development attracting huge capital investment from various countries. Although there is a sizable American investment in China, American investment is smaller and less significant compared to that of other countries. In terms of volume and impact on Chinese economy, American investment ranks fifth. Much more investment has come from Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and the people across the Strait of Taiwan. Now China has huge fund and Beijing, instead, has invested in the United States more than Americans have done in China. This is the point some China experts make their basis to substantiate the argument that United States needs China more than Beijing needs Washington.Now China has emerged as the second largest economy and it has managed to keep afloat its economy despite great recession the world is facing. The United States has not yet recovered from the economic slump and Washington is seeking China's help for reviving American economy. Similar is the case with America's trade with China. The US has a huge trade deficit with China and Washington wants to bring it to balance through increased exports to China. Only last year, China's trade surplus with the United States stood over 44 billion US dollars. China's rapidly growing trade surplus and foreign reserves and also the growing US fiscal and trade deficits are the cause of global concerns as these issues are likely to have serious impact on the world economy.To reverse this trend, Washington needs to work with China in more cooperative way. These are the conditions that have brought these two great nations closer and make them work together for the mutual benefit. The question as to who needs whom is not important at this point. The reality is that both Washington and Beijing need one another. And on the basis of this ground reality and need of the hour, these two countries are working together and helping one another despite some political rhetoric that leaders of both the countries make on certain occasions. Such rhetorical expressions are meant for public consumption not for practical purpose. The relations between these two countries are, thus, based on pragmatism that benefits the both.Viewed from international and regional perspective, this is, indeed, a milestone arrangement that would ensure stability and security in the world in general and Asia in particular. The United States has already signed a strategic partnership and also civil nuclear cooperation deal with India, which has made New Delhi's arch rival Pakistan susceptible and has also irked Beijing and smaller South Asian countries including Nepal. Against this backdrop, the new deal with Beijing would help soothe the tension in the region and make South Asian countries comfortable in terms of security.The world is now scrambling to take benefit from the stunning growth and development of China. Unfortunately, Nepal, despite being the closest neighbor, has not worked towards this direction. Nepal can benefit a lot if we are able to take China into confidence and convince Beijing that its small southern neighbor means what it says. Now Nepal has credibility problem so far as Nepal's relations and cooperation with China are concerned. Nepali parties and government seem to be less aware of the recent developments in the international arena and also the developments in China. As a result, Nepal's dependence on India is increasing heavily and New Delhi is trying to reap political and strategic benefit out of this situation. China is growing in lips and bound and the fruit of China's development has already reached Tibet, thereby, totally changing the face of Tibet and Tibetan people. If Nepal assures China that it would be a dependable partner, China may be willing to invest more in Nepal and help reduce Nepal's heavy dependence on southern neighbor. China is definitely seeking a dependable partner and wants Nepal to be a strong, peaceful and stable nation for which, Beijing is always willing to support materially and morally. Only thing Nepal needs to do is that is has to demonstrate its credibility and firmness in its foreign policy and dealing with the neighbors.
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