The Political Economy of Sino-American Relations: A Greater China Perspective

Preface

Preface This volume has its origin in the appreciation that one of the most significant relationships in the Asia-Pacific region in the 1990s is that between the United States and the dynamic economies of China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. It was with the intention of trying to analyse the recent trends and future prospects for Sino-American economic relations that Lingnan College's Centre for Asian Pacific Studies decided to hold an international conference in Hong Kong in June 1995. The College was particularly happy to have the opportunity to cooperate with the Institute of American Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in organizing this conference, which followed on from an earlier conference held in Shenzhen in November 1993. Paper presenters, discussants and participants not only from the United States, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong but also from Europe, Australia, Japan and other Asian countries joined in the wide-ranging and stimulating discussions. This volume draws together a number of the papers presented at that conference, and falls into four parts. The first provides two overview papers by American scholars; they examine aspects of the Chinese reform process and its impact on the political economy of the state of Sino-American relations. The second part provides a range of perspectives from Taiwanese and Hong Kong scholars on their regions' relations with the United States and the interaction with Sino-American relations. The third part examines in detail particular trade, investment and technological cooperation issues, as well as setting out some of the key features of the triangular economic relationship in what has popularly come to be called 'Greater China'. The fourth part sets the SinoAmerican relationship in the broader regional context, looking at the impact on, and the perspectives of, other Asian Pacific nations, as well as discussing China's role in the global economy. All chapters have been revised and updated during 1996 in the light of comments made at the conference; in the case of Harry Harding, his chapter has been updated to March 1997. We believe that this volume provides a timely and insightful examination of the key issues in Sino-American economic relations. I would like to thank the various sponsors who have given valuable financial and administrative support to the original conference: The Bank of China Group; The Lingnan Foundation (New York); The Ford Foundation (Beijing); The Bank of East Asia (Hong Kong); The Chinese Association for viii Preface American Economic Studies, Beijing; International Golf and Yacht Club, Hong Kong; Hong Kong Society of Asia and Pacific 21; Hong Kong Kwun Tong Industries and Commerce Association; and The World-wIde Chinese Friendly Association. In particular, I would like to give special mention to the Institute of American Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing, which played an invaluable role in arranging the Chinese participation in the original conference. Last but not least, I am most grateful to my colleague, Dr Brian Bridges, who has graciously helped to edit many of the chapters and rendered them much more readable and to Dr Raymond C.W. Ng (AssIstant Research Officer at the Centre for Asian Pacific Studies) as well, for his painstaking work on the entire manuscript. Y.Y. Kueh Lingnan College March 1997 ...