[Ｓｅｃｕｒｉｔｙ　Ｏｎ　ｔｈｅ　Ｍａｒｃｈ]On the floor

　　China gets frequent mentions in President Bush’s second national security report, 　　a document reflecting U.S. strategy adjustments aimed at addressing coming problems
　　On March 16, U.S. President George W. Bush issued his second national security report since assuming the post of president, stating his administration’s national security strategy and diplomatic policies. This can be considered a revision of Bush’s first national security strategy report, publicized in September 2002. Through lines of the new strategy report, the U.S. Government’s concerns about national security and strategy adjustment are quite clear.
　　Terrorism and weapons of mass destruction remain Bush’s perceived major threats, and Iran is considered Washington’s biggest threat and challenge. The report criticizes Iran for supporting terrorist organizations, threatening Israel and being an obstacle to Iraq’s democratic construction process.
　　According to the report, Iran has replaced Iraq as America’s top rival, and poses the most significant challenge to the United States on the part of a single country. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or North Korea, has become another strategic emphasis for the United States, which believes it presents severe challenges in the areas of nuclear proliferation, counterfeit U.S. dollars and drug smuggling.
　　In facing these challenges, the report says, “When the consequences of an attack with weapons of mass destruction are potentially so devastating, we cannot afford to stand idly by as grave dangers materialize.” The report also says that the diplomatic channel is still the top choice in dealing with nuclear weapons and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, but adds that, “The place of pre-emption in our national security strategy remains the same.” If necessary, even if when and where the enemy is to launch an attack is unclear, the United States will not exclude the possibility of adopting preemptive tactics, the report states.
　　The Bush administration has adopted a practical attitude by paying more attention to international cooperation and multilateral diplomacy. Differing from the 2002 version of the report, which sang high praise for the unilateral diplomatic route, the new document includes more cooperative terms, such as “strengthening allies,” “cooperation with other countries,” “multilateral efforts” and “adoption of cooperation agenda with major powers in the world.”
　　While mentioning getting NATO and UN support and strengthening friendly ties with related countries and international organizations, it stresses that the United States will address global problems such as nuclear proliferation, terrorism, traffic in human beings and natural disasters. The U.S. Government’s new strategy of cultivating friendly ties all over the world is rooted in the negative effects brought by its traditional unilateral diplomacy. And the change of focusing on multilateral diplomacy is reflected in the Asia tours of President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
　　The report also reaffirms the emphasis placed on national security in the 2002 national security report. The first priority is the adoption of a pre-emptive strategy when attacking terrorists; the second is strengthening cooperation with big countries; the third is promoting global prosperity and democracy. The report states the United States’ two core principles: promoting freedom, justice and dignity in the world, and leading a growing democratic society to face challenges brought by the times.
　　The United States welcomes more “color revolutions” in countries that it thinks lack democracy, and the Bush administration believes that what those countries also lack is better relations with Washington. In the edited version of the report, the word “democracy” is used 51 times, as the White House believes that only when all countries in the world become democratic countries, can the world be safer.
　　The report emphasizes guiding countries at a strategic crossroads to make “the right choice.” The U.S. Government believes that China, India and Russia, being big, rising countries, are in need of guidance on their development so as not to hurt U.S. interests.
　　With regards to China, the United States hopes it can be a constructive partner in geographic politics if it can rise as an economic power in the right way. As the report states, if China can keep developing peacefully through its reforms, the United States will be glad to see a peaceful and prosperous China, a China that can cooperate with the White House on mutual challenges and mutual interests. Washington hopes to see China as a “responsible stakeholder.” It encourages China to stick to the road of reform, democratic construction and opening up, which will be helpful to regional and world stability.
　　With respect to India, the United States regards it as a democratic country that shares common interests with Washington, and thus hopes to form a closer strategic partnership with the country.
　　As for Russia, the two Bush administration national security reports show totally different attitudes. The old version defined Russia as a country in an interim period but facing a hopeful and democratic future, perhaps as an antiterrorism partner with the United States. But the new version seems to believe that Russia is departing from democratic freedom and democratic policy, and thus the report is trying to persuade Russia to return to the road of freedom. It also warns that if Russia tries to block the development of democracy inside or outside Russia, its relations with the United States, Europe and its neighboring countries will suffer.
　　The United States realizes that China, India and Russia are going to play important roles and challenge U.S. leading position in the world. It must face the development of the three countries and pay great attention to all.
　　U.S. policy toward China shows its antinomy to China’s development, which doesn’t bode well for bilateral relations between the countries. According to the report, the United States stresses mutual interests between the two countries, hoping to strengthen their cooperation on various challenges by promoting China’s position in U.S. diplomacy; however, it is also scared by China’s rapid development, and thus scolds China’s domestic and diplomatic policies as well as its direction of development, and releases statements that undermine bilateral relations.
　　Based on the increased frequency with which China is mentioned in the new report, the country’s position has been elevated. And the contents in the report concerning China are in accordance with an American evaluation of China and Sino-U.S. ties. The report concludes that China’s success is dramatic-the country is emerging from being poor and isolated to play an increasingly important role in the world. It must be a responsible stakeholder and perform its responsibility to push international economic and political systems forward, so as to maintain global security and stability.
　　The report seems to believe that China, like the United States, is facing challenges such as globalization. Mutual interests can glue the two countries together when they face cooperation on antiterrorism, nuclear non-proliferation and energy security. And the two countries also will tighten cooperation on the prevention of epidemic diseases and a worsening environment.
　　But the last part of the report reflects the Pentagon and U.S. Government’s hawkish, hard-line stance toward China, showing a conflicting attitude toward China’s rise.
　　The report also talks of Washington’s concerns about China’s development: China should work on the clarity of its growing military budget; China should be more open on manners of seeking energy security and an open market; China should support countries with abundant energy resources in energy exploration but not in politics.
　　In fact, Washington’s worries about Beijing’s attitudes in the fields of military and energy are not necessary. The clarity of Chinese military reserves keeps improving, as China has publicized four national defense white papers and two white papers related to its disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation. The content and information inside the white papers are being improved as time goes by. China takes a policy of self-defense, which doesn’t pose any threat to world peace. China’s demand for energy is based on the country’s need for economic development and getting rid of poverty, and it is part of China’s right to develop. Meanwhile, China puts energy saving at the top of its agenda. Thus, its energy demand will not cause an impact on the world energy market. And China’s cooperation on the economy and energy with other countries is fair and legal, and should not be politicized.
　　China has protested against the U.S. remarks. Based on China’s efforts toward peaceful development and its active role in world affairs, the world will get a just conclusion when it comes to China. Developing constructive Sino-U.S. ties benefits the two countries and their peoples, as well as benefiting the world peace, stability and prosperity. It is a wise choice for the United States to strengthen mutual trust and common understanding and promoting its comtructive cooperation with China, so as to maintain the healthy and stable development of Sino-U.S. relations to realize mutual interests.
　　The author is director of the Division of Asia-Pacific Studies, China Institute of International Studies

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