Congress Works to Define the U.S.-China Relationship

Thursday, December 13, 2007

In December 2007, the Center for National Policy hosted a breakfast meeting on Capitol Hill which featured the co-chairs of the U.S. China Working Group in the United States Congress, Representatives Rick Larsen (D-WA) and Mark Kirk (R-IL). The meeting event focused on the role of Congress in shaping what Congressman Larsen said is, “the most important diplomatic relationship for the United States in the 21st century.”

The Chairs of the Working Group saw a need for a continual exchange of information between the two nations and in particular between the People’s National Congress and the U.S. Congress. Such an information exchange between institutions could play an important role in providing facts to lawmakers on both sides to defuse potentially controversial issues.

The U.S.-China relationship is no longer confined to the realm of foreign policy exchanges that are handled at the diplomatic level. Instead, issues ranging from trade, product safety, and the environment now characterize the U.S.-China relationship. These are issues which directly touch the lives of U.S. citizens and require responses from Members of Congress which may well increasingly take the form of legislation. The legislative branch may well create a more powerful impact on issues such as China’s role in Darfur, the Beijing Olympics, and currency exchange rates.

Congressmen Larsen and Kirk stressed the importance of an engagement agenda with China characterized by consistency in the bi-lateral U.S.-China relationship. CNP President and former Congressman Tim Roemer said that there must be a place for defining the relationship that is between the position of the “panda huggers” and the “dragon slayers,” but insisted more needs to be done to improve China’s record on issues as important as consumer product safety for America citizens, human rights and religious freedoms for Chinese citizens. Both speakers agreed on the importance of conveying to the Chinese the position that the United States has permanent interests in Asia and is in this region to stay.

CNP Views

Success in managing relations between the United States and China will be a key to the maintenance of peace and prosperity for the entire world in the 21st century. A main goal of U.S. foreign policy must be to manage the “rise of China” so that its influence is directed into the existing international system. If the relationship is managed well, there are tremendous potential political and economic benefits for the world. Conflict could have grave consequences around the globe.
As the U.S. China relationship becomes more complex, interactions between the two nations touch the lives of more people, and issues arise which will be brought before the respective national legislatures. A consistent, factual and accurate flow of information between the two legislatures will be essential for the effective maintenance and improvement of the U.S.-China relationship. Some measures that could be considered to further these goals include:

Establishing a more formal, annual exchange program between the United States Congress and the People’s National Congress of the PRC.
The State Department should provide a “Daily Briefing on China” for Members of Congress and members of their staff.

The 2008 Beijing Olympics offer an opportunity for the United States to exert influence and apply pressure on China to take steps to become a responsible stakeholder in the existing international system. CNP President and former Congressman Tim Roemer urged Congress to explore ways to leverage the Chinese desire to avoid embarrassment at the August Olympic Games with designate efforts to improve their human rights record.
There are several areas to explore in the government and business sectors to encourage both countries to work together on bilateral efforts to protect the environment and cooperate in reducing global warning. We should encourage trips, congressional resolutions and legislative conferences to define some of these objectives.
The United States and Department of Defense need to continue to carefully and fully assess the steady progress the Chinese military is achieving in building their military, designing quieter submarines and their defense spending.