The Return of Smile Diplomacy
By Daniel Gearin
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PlurkChina is backing away from last year’s assertive posture. Whatever the reason, the US shouldn’t expect a transformation in ties.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, much of the US media’s attention during Chinese President Hu Jintao’s state visit to Washington last month was focused on remarks he made on human rights (and the translation difficulties that occurred during his press conference with US President Barack Obama).
Unfortunately, this has meant that some of the main implications of what was said at the summit went overlooked. Indeed, recent media reports in China hint at an interesting development in Sino-US relations—the increasingly assertive face of Chinese diplomacy that has been on display, particularly over the past year, may be giving way to one of reassurance and relative restraint. Beijing, it seems, has recognized that it overplayed its hand in 2010 with its aggressive international posture, and is now trying to salvage its tattered reputation.
Even before Hu arrived in Washington, several of China’s most authoritative publications signalled Beijing’s tone was changing, with articles stressing the need for cooperation and friendly relations between China and the United States. Positive reports of the visit continued throughout the week, and the visit was accorded a level of attention by the Chinese media not seen for this kind of event in more than a decade. The People’s Daily, widely viewed as the mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), devoted its first two pages to the visit, while other media sources stated that Hu’s trip would prove to be as ‘historically significant’ as Deng Xiaoping’s momentous visit in 1979. The overwhelmingly positive coverage of the visit, and the degree of attention it received, reflects Beijing’s desire to smooth relations with Washington after a prolonged period of tension.
The real reasons behind the frayed relations between the two countries since Barack Obama took office aren’t entirely clear. Of course, the arms sale to Taiwan last January (followed shortly after by a meeting between Obama and the Dalai Lama) are obvious sources of strain. Yet, Beijing’s response to both incidents seemed uncharacteristically assertive compared with similar moves under the Bush administration. And anyway, China’s ire wasn’t reserved for the United States; its attitude also hardened toward other nations in the region and beyond. Perhaps the clearest two examples were the public berating of Japan over the detention of a Chinese fishing trawler captain, and Beijing’s sharp criticism of the West a couple of months later after the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to political dissident Liu Xiaobo.
Image credit: Kenny Louie
SCdad07
Dispute or correct information below and be your own judge on sovereignty issue over South China Sea:
“On July 25 1933 the French Foreign Ministry announced the occupation of the nine islets of the Spratlys and asserted French sovereignty over them for the first time. The French action brought immediate protests from China. At that time, the Philippines was a colony of America. Some Filipino congressman said the nine islands should belong to the Philippines according to the Treaty of Paris. However his suggestion was ignored by Washington since the Spratly Islands obviously were not within the Philippine boundary as stated by the Treaty Limits.
Japan unconditionally surrendered in 1945 after their defeat in the World War II. Towards the end of 1946, the Chinese government sent a naval task force consisting of four warships to the Spratlys and Paracels to execute demonstrative possessor acts on the spot. The task force sailed from Guangdong (Canton) on December 9, 1946. The two war ships Taiping and Zhongye set course for the Spratlys and after 3 days’ sailing, they reached Itu Aba Island, the principal island of the Spratlys on the morning of December 12, 1946. They immediately sent telegraphs to Nanjing to report on their arrival and later stationed on the Itu Aba Island. The Itu Aba Island was surveyed. The task force also reached and surveyed other Spratly Islands including Nanyue Island, Thitu Island, North Danger Reef etc. The symbols of Japanese sovereignty were removed and a Sovereignty Stone Marker was placed on the Itu Aba Island. They also held a take-over ceremony.
In December 1947 Territorial Administration Section of Ministry of Internal Affairs published a list of South China Sea Islands Names and a Map of South China Sea Islands. The Itu Aba Island is renamed to Taiping Island, the Thitu Island is renamed to Zhongye Island, the commander’s name of the task force is also used as a name of a Sand Cay (Dunqian Shazhou).
In 1956 Tomas Cloma together with his brothers and 40 crew explored the Spratlys and claimed to have “discovered” and occupied 53 islands and reefs of the Spratlys. They proclaimed “formal ownership” over them and renamed these islands and reefs the Kalayaan (Freedomland) Island Group.
The Philippine act was immediately met with protests from PRC, Taiwan, Saigon as well as France. The PRC denounced Tomas Cloma’s alleged “discovery” as totally groundless. Manila responded to Taipei and Saigon that it had no claims on the Spratlys. Since then Taiwan sent troops to the Islands to patrol the Spratly Islands and stationed on Itu Aba Island to prevent further such allegations.
In early July 1971, the Philippine government alleged that the Taiwanese troops on the Itu Aba Island “fired on a boat carrying a Philippine congressman”. After this the Philippine government announced on July 10 1971 that “it had sent a diplomatic note to Taipei asking that the Chinese garrison be withdrawn from Itua Aba”. Manila stated that 53 islands and reefs once occupied by Tomas Cloma should belong to the Philippines, because the area was terra nullius at the time of its occupation and was “acquired according to the modes of acquisition recognized under international law, among which are occupation and effective administration”. Meanwhile the Philippines sent its navy to occupy Thitu Island and Nanshan Island.
In April 1972, the Philippines government incorporated the “Kalayaan” group into Palawan Province as a municipality.”
source: spratlys.org
Max
Let’s all just be friends, and go out together for a drink. Anybody? gan bei? Both the U.S. and China have some bright spots and dark spots. Let’s move on, and stop this stupid talk of who should glass who. We all only have this little rock of a planet to share, and despite whatever problems we might perceive we have, we’re all connected even in the air that we breath… I guess if you really don’t like sharing you can hold your breath until you’re dead, but otherwise, let’s all just accept and learn to understand and appreciate each other.
Reading most of the comments on here makes me sick. I think I’ll probably forget this site, and go outside and sincerely smile at my fellow man.
You all have fun. Anybody else who’s interested in bigger things, drinks are on me.
Liberty N
No neighbors could trust China any more! Under the amiable facade was the true face of a wild wolf ready to devour its prey! The US and its allies should wake up and take immediate necessary countermeasures against an ambitious aggressive communist China before it’s too late! With an imperialist mindset plus a rising power’s old-fashioned agenda, a ‘revisionist’ China having long coveted ruling the world will do its best to redraw the map and remake the rules in favor of its own interests! That’s the stark reality the world must accept and confront! And there should be no more self-deception! Without the US presence as a protector, a guarantor and balancer, Communist China would hold all Pacific-Asia in its sway very soon! Unless there are some kinds of popular uprising (like Jasmine Revolution) to transmute an authoritarian China into a liberal democracy or a total economic implosion to collapse China, the prospect of a regional conflict is inevitably real! Thus all of China’s neighbors must be ready for all the worst!!
Artemis
And let us not forget the outburst of the possible future head of the parasites on the chinese worker.
But, yeah. It’s America’s fault. Always is to you types. You can’t find something intelligent to discuss so you come in with big sweeping statements that show you to be exactly what you claim someone else is. Can you tell me what literary device that is?
China is a threat as is. People started realizing it and came to the US for help. You see that as bullying. We see that as a natural progression away from repressive regimes with a tendency to kill and exploit all that oppose them.
First Advisor
One possible reason for the shift in Chinese diplomacy is that the Chinese finally accepted that Americans would always be too rude to tolerate, and the best thing to do was simply smile patiently while utterly ignoring whatever any American said. Americans are raised to be as rude as possible in all situations, and the proof of that is that Americans appear to be completely unaware of how rude they are. They are mannerless barbarians when they aren’t savages, and the proof of that is their inexplicable belief that any other country of the world would ever consider being an ‘ally’ of the USA. America has no allies, and no friends. The USA knows other governments who smile and nod, terrified of being ‘bombed back into the Stone Age’ by the bloodthirsty savages they are talking with. The idea of any nation of the world being an ally of the USA is preposterous, and only the rude Americans seem to be ignorant of the fact. The world is merely waiting the two or three decades necessary for the Chinese to be stong enough to reduce the USA to a glass plain of radioactive rubble. Then the world will have peace at last.
John
Firts Advisor wrote: “America has no allies, and no friends. The USA knows other governments who smile and nod, terrified of being ‘bombed back into the Stone Age’ by the bloodthirsty savages they are talking with”.
Are you talking about the US or China?
If I count and name the nations that China counts as close friends and then the ones that the US counts as friends. Who is most likely to be afraid?
ace
Very strange comment as noone has more allies than the US. The reason is they can be trusted as an ally. Nobody seems to trust China. BTW I am NOT american.
Chinese nationalists who claim that those who agree with the US are “lapdogs” are very arrogant. Do you think only China and the US wants to protect their own interests? The fact is that these US allies see a strong and involved US as in their best interest!
Artemis
“The world is merely waiting the two or three decades necessary for the Chinese to be stong enough to reduce the USA to a glass plain of radioactive rubble.”
I would sincerely hope not since it would burn the whole world. But you know, you wordly types keep on hoping na dus savages will keep on wondering what in the hell is truly wrong with you. What is it? A disease? Brain cancer clusters?I’m curious.
Americans are raised to be as rude as possible: you mean like the minister who tried to molest an 11 year old girl and was caught? he seemed so pleasant. You mean like the pianist that at a state dinner decided he was going to play an insulting nationalist tune? That’s so very polite of the enlightened ones!
Your racism is showing through, mouthpiece. Dial it back a little.
John Chan
I second First Advisor’s impartial comment. Artemis’ racist comments are the worst ever appeared on this site. There are always hectic debates on various subjects on this site, but they never carry racism as naked as Artmeis’. Artmis surly would win the racism Oscar prize of this site if there is one.
USA only has tools, no allies. More nations demand visa from US citizen than requesting visa from China citizen, it tells the truth how many nations see USA as a friend. USA is the mobster of the world; since there is only one globe, so all other peace loving nations like China on this planet just have to live with its uneducated manner.
Ngoa Long
“…The world is merely waiting the two or three decades necessary for the Chinese to be stong enough to reduce the USA to a glass plain of radioactive rubble. Then the world will have PEACE at last.–First Advisor!”
What kind of Peace is that, First Advisor??! Is that the ‘Peace’ with the ‘ Middle Kingdom’ on top to rule the world with its iron fists, and a ‘tributary system’ where every country in this world must come to ‘pay homage to the Chinese leaders’ as the rulers of ‘all-under-heaven’?!
Forget about it, Communist China! Your dream shall never come true!!!
John
How hypocritical can I be? Well I would say not at all. My country doesn’t have any military near China. My country is not threatening China.
My country does not make unsubstantiated claims over waters near China. So I would say I am not a hypocrite. Where did I say anything about supporting the US in my post?
I stated that China has taken actions in 2010 that are at odds of thier whole “we love our neighbors and our actions create stability in Asia”.
China started acting very arrogant, from 2008-2010, I would argue. Its the arrogance of the US that annoys me as well. So you saying the US is arrogant and places its troops in areas that concern us, so we should be able to act the same doesn’t win any points from me.
I am saying, that if China wants people to believe the message that it keeps on selling, then its actions must reflect that. I am also saying that bitching about the US being in the region while taking actions that push them to remain is stupid to say the least.
harry
its not CHina’s problem that we had to have an hard line approch. China’s alleged aggressive diplomacy was against strategic enemies, the USA and its lapdogs in north east asia, and a bunch of annoying south east asian countries who has only started so called “legal” claim to Chinese territories in the 1970s. China has made it very clear that its willing to start real bilateral dialogues to solve disputes, its the lapdogs who are refusing to start real dialogues because they think they can get away with a piece of China due to American support. the fact that you say japanese has legal rights to Diaoyu island really showed your truth colour. So just admit who you really are.
John
Harry wrote: “China’s alleged aggressive diplomacy was against strategic enemies, the USA and its lapdogs in north east asia, and a bunch of annoying south east asian countries who has only started so called “legal” claim to Chinese territories in the 1970s.”
This I dont understand.
Why are you seeking strategic enemies?
What does China do that creates these so called strategic enemies?
Maybe its the following:
Who gave China the right to build over a ten year period a naval resupply base in the Spratly islands that is closer to the Philippines than China? A place that was under water half of every day until the Chinese navy built a bamboo shack which it stated was a fishermans typhoon refugee shelter in 1992, but in 2000 was a concrete building with wharfs and gun turrents on on it.
A place that was never inhabitable and in no way ever part of Chinese territory, until the Chinese Navy built a military base in the Philippines EEZ. Is it Philippines that causes problems? Is this one of your “annoying South East Asian Countries”?
Seriously, China steals some ocean property from the Philippines and makes it so defensible that only a military attack could remove its presence and you have the nerve to blame them?
Do you actually know what your country does?
John
Harry wrote: “So just admit who you really are”.
You go first.
megakids
Then why don’t you stay the hell out and mind your own business. But you can’t. You are Americans, right? Do more when you have the capabilities. Right now you are close to bankrupt. The FED is about to shut down. So why don’t you just butt out and stay home?
John
If you are responding to my comments, then all I have to say is why?
I live here. Its a global world with many different countries dealing with each other.
If you want me to get out of Asia, then pull all Chinese out of the Pacific. Stop spending money to influence Governments in my region.
Stop introducing corrupt practices. Stop spending money to build Satelite bases on our Islands.
Stop coming to my area and I will leave yours.
China has no history that it can claim here, so if you want me out of China, then I will leave. Though if your neighbors in Asia want me to stay then I will.
Oh, by the way, learn how to read english. I am not an American.
Artemis
This site is a comment eating nightmare.
A simplified version of what I wrote before to Harry:
Who is threatening China? Other than the people against the leadership, anyway.
Now earn your 50 cents!
John
There are two old sayings in my country.
1.) Beware of a wolf in sheeps clothing.
China does at times makes you wonder whether thier pleasantries are nothing more than a sheep skin coat.
2.) Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
China acted like it wasn’t an aggressive nation in the past, that it had no problems with its neighbors. The CCP and PLA/PLAN then verbally attacked Japan for defending its territory, supported NK against SK and made public that it has military weapons designed simply to attack the US.
If it plays a cutsie role again, well I would be stupid to believe that the leopard has truly changed its spots.
To the Pro-Chinese supporters on this forum. You believe what you believe about Chinese love for its neighbors and the world and I will make sure to remember the past and keep my powder dry until they prove for real that they aren’t just wearing a sheep skin jacket.
harry
yes USA is allowed to station its military on the doorstep of China while CHina is not allowed to defend itself, yes USA and its allies are alwasys right in territory disputes while when China releases harsh words to protect its soveriegnity you people come and dump this China threat rhetoric. John how hypocritical can you people be?
Artemis
What is it China needs to defend itself from, other than their own people? Who do you know that actually wants to invade China?
No one has an aggressive posture towards China. Or rather, they didn’t, until your parasitic leadership overplayed it’s hand. Now it’s plain that it is China that has the problem with showing it’s fangs.
Plenty of us knew it was a bad idea to deal with China just by the widespread theft and aggressive hacking going on.
China has been ludicrously aggressive on all fronts. None of us will forget it.
From deliberatly downing our aircraft in international waters and holding our countrymen hostage, to deliberatly trying to attack our naval ships and tangle their sonar arrays in international waters (again)the Chinese leadership has showed that it’s a ham-handed agitating
Many think Americans have short memories. I’ll tell you that isn’t so, we just tend to forgive and move on with things rather than sit in the past more readily than others.
It’s not true of everything however. Attack us and the memory becomes long and forgiveness comes from the barrel of a gun.
It’s really too bad the Jasmine Revolution call on twitter was met with squashing, rather than addressing the greviances. They are very reasonable demands. If you can even read this post due to the censorship.
Now earn your 50 cents!
John Chan
@Artemis, China needs to defend against predatory imperialist USA and its lackey war criminal Japan, and imperialist wannabe India, Australia and Vietnam. The USA and its lackeys are experts of blaming the victim; they are wolves in sheep skin, devils in human faces but the hearts of a beast. The battle of defending China is a battle of the survival of Chinese against the ruthless aggressors of the US and its gang of bandits.
The USA and its clique of bandits have ravaged China in the history, now they want to repeat that part of history to ransack China and plunge Chinese in hell again in the name of upholding their Anglo-Saxon world order for the benefits of other subordinated races.
The USA has short memory; it has forgotten the bloody lessons in Korea War, Vietnam War and the mess they are in Afghanistan. Maybe it’s time for the US to get a bloody nose again to learn how to be humble and respect other people’s integrity.
Jasmine Revolution is happening in the USA, seizure of legislature house by the demonstrators in Wisconsin is only the beginning; pretty soon the US will go the fate of Yugoslavia and be broken into pieces.
China should copy the USA on how to treat people who threaten its security in Guantanamo Bay to treat those trespasser USA servicemen.
Now go and earn you 50 cents from CIA and other imperialist foundations and think tanks.
John
John Chan wrote: “@Artemis, China needs to defend against predatory imperialist USA and its lackey war criminal Japan, and imperialist wannabe India, Australia and Vietnam. The USA and its lackeys are experts of blaming the victim; they are wolves in sheep skin, devils in human faces but the hearts of a beast. The battle of defending China is a battle of the survival of Chinese against the ruthless aggressors of the US and its gang of bandits.”
Thanks for educating us as to how (hopefully a small number) Chinese Commentators view us.
You dont mind if I post your comments on other boards so others can learn the love you feel towards us?
Mel
Yes, the same respect you have for your citizens. Give me a break
JD
China realized that it overplayed its hand in 2010.The charm offensive by China is to advance China’s agenda.CHINA IS NO FOOL,others will be if they believe in China’s charm offensive
Tendar Tsering
Media coverage in China about the president’s visit is more or less obfuscation and prevarication ordered and controlled by the Communist Party of China, where as the media in the west are free but then, these west media also have the tendency of over coverage about democracy and criticizing China whenever its president or a delegate visits the West.
So, there is a gap between the government, as well as ideological differences, and cultural differences between its common masses also.
We know the human rights violations and media censorship in China which the CCP has to improve, but we also must agree that the CCP has made China one of the most powerful countries in the world, and the west has to accept the fact that the communist’s dedication towards it country has made its nation the second most powerful nation in the world.
The bottom line is there are differences between the two super powers, and both has to respect the differences and learn the good things from each other.
Mel
No, we need not celebrate the differences. Thier communism success is on the backs of their citizens, treated as subhuman. Yes, they are powerful, but not because of the inherent success of marxism
Bernie
Obviously, China continues with the ‘two steps forward, one step back’ approach.
Anon
Bernie- in this case it was one step forward and three steps back for its relations within the region. They really hurt themselves with the assertiveness, and it achieved only propaganda gains, while making the completion of their geopolitical objectives more difficult.
megakids
That’s your view. The issues affecting the regions will have to be sorted out sooner or later. So it’s now. Assertive or submissive is all relative. No big deal. I support China’s stance. If it’s time to whack, it’s time to whack. No second thought necessary!
emenot
@megakids:
Just observing your call sign is enough to convince me you are from China. Right?
Jake
I disagree. It’s more like 3 steps forward and 1 step back.
China did a lot more than just flex muscle. It was a heat check, seeing how far they can push things. They learned a lot from it and most nations will forget soon enough.
emenot
Agreed! Even in business contract, they practice the same.
Alex
I agree.