A Princeton University professor said the United States should take an interest in the mutual benefit of the prosperity of China during a speech last Thursday in the Mary Reed building.
The speaker, Tom Christiansen, also served as former assistant to the secretary of the state for East Asian and Pacific affairs from 2006-2008. He spoke to about 120 grad students, former colleagues and others, all there to listen to his presentation on foreign relations of China as a rising super power in the world.
According to Christiansen, it is widespread belief that in recent years China has begun an aggressive policy in regards to foreign relations, mainly attributing this to the financial crisis. In 2010, after the crisis, China began to alienate surrounding nations such as Japan, South Korea and India. China’s behavior began appearing sporadic and aggressive when dealing with foreign nations.
Christiansen said his stance is contrary to these assumptions. China is too passive and too unorganized when it comes to foreign relations and domestic stability. Instead, the country is simply not reacting aggressively enough to external events happening at the periphery of their control, he said.
During the speech, Christiansen stated that China’s foreign relations are on shaky ground. In addition, he said domestic stability is also less than par. Tension rising in the Asian states from negative reactions to the foreign relations has the Chinese government worried that the collective tension and a unifying cause will lead to a disaster in domestic and government policy.
The people of the Chinese nation are more inter-social with one another. Christiansen said this is a potential catalyst for issues such as wealth disparities and government protests.
“China can’t just keep kicking the can down the road, no matter where China goes – whether it’s constructive, passive, negative or aggressive,” said Christiansen. “The USA-China relationship is going to be the most important in the world. It’s going to be one of the most important nations in the world.”
