Rising U.S.-China Tensions
“With U.S. elections approaching and China preparing for a leadership change in 2012, the U.S.-China relationship appears headed for a tailspin,” says Asia Society Executive Vice President Jamie Metzl. “From a U.S. perspective, China is becoming far more aggressive with its territorial claims in the South China Sea and elsewhere, rapidly building up its military without maintaining sufficient transparency, failing to play a significant role in preventing the nuclear weaponization of Iran, and continuing to control its currency at an artificially low level and undermine exports from the United States and most other countries in the world. From the Chinese perspective, the rules of the game have now changed and China deserves a stronger role in international affairs and demands a reexamination of old rules of the road on such issues as U.S.-Taiwan relations and colonial-era border demarcations. Although a great deal of give and take will be needed to address these growing tensions, it is extremely likely that things will get worse, perhaps even far worse, before they get better.”
Jamie is in New York. To arrange an interview, contact the Asia Society communications department at 212-327-9271 or [email protected].