Journal: East Asia worries about 'confrontational' U.S.-China relations

Raw Story | June 6 2005

Critical comments by U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld regarding China's growing military capabilities are raising fears among East Asian countries that they could become ensnared in a new period of strategic rivalry between Washington and Beijing, the Wall Street Journal will report Monday. Rumsfeld's remarks come in the wake of increased U.S. criticism of China on issues from its exchange rate to textile exports. Excerpts follow:

"Many East Asian diplomats say they are eager to see the U.S. remain engaged in the region as a means to underpin stability. "Privately, they also express concern about China's booming economy and its potential to undercut their countries' ability to attract investment and compete for export markets."

"But these leaders also are quick to caution the Bush administration against being overly confrontational toward Beijing on trade and security. This approach could divide Asia into competing camps and undermine its prospects for cooperation and growth, they say.

"We do not want to take sides" in an escalating competition between the U.S. and China, said Sukhumbhand Paribatra, a former deputy foreign minister of Thailand told the Journal. "We cannot take sides."

"It's not a zero sum game....If you treat China as an enemy, you'll make it one," another senior Asian diplomat said.

Rumsfeld spoke Saturday in Singapore.

"China appears to be expanding its missile forces, allowing them to reach targets in many areas of the world, not just the Pacific region, while also expanding its missile capabilities here in the region," he said. "Since no nation threatens China, one must wonder: Why this growing investment?"

The speech sparked an immediate response from Beijing's chief delegate at the Singapore conference, who asked Rumsfeld: "Do you truly believe that China is under no threat whatsoever from any part of the world, and do you truly believe that the United States feels threatened by the so-called emergence of China?"

Even so, The Journal says Washington gained respect in the wake of December's earthquake.

The U.S.'s "ability to quickly deploy vast naval and air forces contrasted sharply with China's limited humanitarian response, which consisted largely of sending small teams of engineers and medical staff. The differing levels of aid reminded many Asian leaders just how far China still trails the U.S. in military terms."