West and China simply do not follow same rules
Post-Cold war strategy for dealing with China was rooted in liberal ideas
As the trade war between the US and China escalates, with President Donald Trump imposing tariffs of Chinese imports, both sides are trying to portray themselves as victims of an unconstrained unilateralist rival. They're both wrong: this dispute is about something much bigger. For many years, American foreign policy adopted a fairly strong pro-China stance. The US was a major proponent of China's accession to the World Trade Organisation and took no direct policy action in response to its long-running manipulation of the yuan. It advocated China's development and tried to integrate it into the broader international system, despite China's abuses in areas such as intellectual property. All along, its goal was to avoid conflict, get China to reform and open its economy, and assimilate it into a system built around open markets and liberal values. The problem was that China never really accepted this system. As Princeton professor Aaron Friedberg recently described the conflict: Ameri...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.