To Be an Enlightened Superpower

The twentieth century passed with a vivid U.S. fingerprint on almost every aspect of human life. As we move into the twenty-first century, the magic of globalization and the information age has rendered U.S. influence omnipresent on the earth. The United States' primary role in world affairs is understood, but for many observers, it is full of contradictions. The United States pledges to stand for human rights and democracy, but this promise is coupled with a certain degree of hypocrisy. The United States claims to promote peace and stability but often intrudes into the internal affairs of others by abusing its supreme military power or waving the stick of sanctions. The United States cherishes a high degree of self-pride but often neglects to show respect to, and consideration for, the national feelings of others. Washington tends to seek absolute security for itself but is inclined to dismiss the legitimate security concerns of other countries.

Without the United States the world might be less stable and prosperous; but Washington certainly can do better in promoting peace, harmony, and prosperity in the world. Hypothetically, how can the United States act as an enlightened superpower? In particular, from a Chinese perspective, what are the ideal policies the United States should undertake in dealing with China and the Asia-Pacific region? To explore what an ideal U.S. policy should look like, the baseline must necessarily be current U.S. policy.

Neither Rosy nor Grimy Glasses

An ideal U.S. policy toward China should be based on a correct perception of China. The United States should develop a full appreciation of three issues before a sound China policy can be developed: how to understand progress and problems in a fast-changing China, how to treat a rising China with respect, and how to define the nature of Sino-U.S. relations.

The Chinese have always been upset by an oversimplified U.S. view of China. From 1979 to the spring of 1989, the United States had viewed China through rose-colored glasses. In that light, China was a country embracing economic reform, political liberalization, and a diversified social life. After the Tiananmen Square conflict, the United States swung to the other extreme, looking at China through a grimy lens and seeing a country that violates human rights, restricts religious freedom, pollutes the environment, and bullies Taiwan.

In fact, understanding China has never been that simple. China has made huge progress over the past two decades toward turning itself into a modern country. At the same time, it has been carrying too much historical baggage and now faces many new challenges. China is not as good as U.S. observers used to believe in the 1980s, but it is not as bad as they assume in the post-Tiananmen period.

In the real world, the Americans, affected by their cultural background, may never be able to overcome a black-and-white approach to understanding China. In an ideal world, policymakers in Washington would take a more balanced view of China's achievements and problems and be reasonably patient when expecting more fundamental and positive changes in this country. Moreover, U.S. policy would be geared to facilitate China's progress, not to hamper it. For example, on the issue of human rights, the United States should welcome China's progress, while acknowledging the complexity of this issue and help China develop its social, economic, and political conditions to improve human rights even further. U.S. human rights policy should not be focused on sponsoring anti-China bills at the annual Geneva conference of the United Nations Human Rights Commission and on supporting a handful of political dissidents.

A second problem is the U.S. attitude toward a rising China. In the 1980s, the U.S. political elite stated that a strong China would help promote regional stability and serve U.S. interests. At the time, they perceived that a more powerful China would contribute to U.S...