Gates’ Grim Expression and America’s Worries

[unhappycamper]

Forcing America to start a military arms race would certainly spoil its plans to recover its economy and perhaps cause the economy to collapse. Maybe this is a good option.


Gates’ Grim Expression and America’s Worries
Zaobao, Singapore
By Wen Ming
Translated By Michelle Deeter
14 January 2011
Edited by Patricia Simoni

United States Secretary of Defense Robert Gates arrived in Beijing on January 9 for a three-day visit to China. This time, China treated the meeting as a very high-profile event and gave him the best of treatment, equal to that given to former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. The President of the People’s Republic of China and Chairman of the Central Military Committee Hu Jintao and the Vice President and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Xi Jinping met separately with Gates.

America’s New York Times stated on Jan. 7 that Gates’ visit to China was similar to his visit in 2007, in that the list of issues and goals of the visit was the same. However, times have changed: In the past three years, the world political and economic situations have changed significantly. Conflicts between China and America have also increased greatly. In that case, how should one interpret the underlying motives of Gates’ visit to China?

In a press conference with the American media before he left for China, Gates stated that the U.S. needed to pay attention to China's strengthening military forces, but there was no reason to view China as an enemy. Some experts believe that America is still pursuing a policy of hedging its bets. That is, America is simultaneously increasing contact with China and checking the growth of China’s power.

China believes that, in the past year, America has increased the pace and the pertinence of its “Return to Asia” strategy. It is the main reason why the diplomatic situation between the two countries has become grim. According to America, Chinese foreign policy is becoming more tough and self-confident. America believes if this posture is not checked, then it will severely affect the stability and security of bilateral and international relations.

America thinks that military hegemony is the main pillar to world hegemony. Military strength is becoming a more and more important part of hegemonic strength. One could say that America’s last and most important weapon for protecting its hegemony is to not let anyone have a stronger military and not let anyone challenge its status as the strongest military in the world.