China's Free Trade Relationship with the United States: Economic Boon or 'Unrestricted Warfare'

摘要

This paper examines the emergence of China as an economic power in Asia. Both major U.S. political parties have endorsed a policy of extensive economic engagement with China as being in the nation's interests. However there are aspects of Chinese economic behavior that indicate the United States should proceed with caution. This paper reviews the nature of the U.S. - China free trade relationship and the impact of that relationship on U.S. national security interests in the still evolving post-Cold War world. In order to put Chinese economic strategy in perspective and to advance understanding of China's long- term strategic objectives China's economic strategy is examined relative to the Opium Wars and the recently published Chinese concept of Unrestricted Warfare. Other issues examined include implications of China's exercise of its economic power in the Asia-Pacific as it establishes regional trade alliances; United States strategic vulnerabilities created by the interdependent effects of a struggling economy and record budget and trade deficits - while financing the Global War on Terror; and China's pattern of economic opportunity denial and resource dominance in Asia. This paper concludes that the United States should engage China in a free and open trade relationship in a way that denies China opportunities to exploit that relationship in ways detrimental to U.S. National Security Interests. In this regard a recommendation to employ a carefully crafted strategy of 'Strategic Pushback' is offered. This proposed strategy is focused on the concerted strengthening of the U.S. economy strengthening U.S. relationships with the countries of Asia and commitment to the maintenance of a dominant U.S. military presence in the Asia-Pacific through the year 2050.