Why the U.S.-China relationship is the most important in the world

Ambassador Jon Huntsman with daughter, Gracie Mei. (Source AP images)

by Jon M. Huntsman, Jr.

U.S. Ambassador to the PRC

I’ve seen a lot of reporting lately in the Chinese and American press on the state of the U.S.-China relationship.  It is variously described as heading for a “trade war” or suffering from “the United States' Cold War mentality.”  Comments like this remind us that even with the many changes over the past thirty years, we continue to experience “ups and downs” our complex and comprehensive relationship.  This is only natural.  There are real differences between our two nations; differences in interests, differences in values, differences in approaches to issues both at home and abroad.  But more noteworthy are our common interests and the increasingly common approaches that have developed with the maturing of our relationship.

In a recent exchange with Chinese journalists, I was asked the significance of President Obama’s mentioning China twice during his State of the Union address last month.  That’s an easy question: the President was acknowledging how important your country is in addressing the challenges in the world.   We can’t do that alone, nor can just the two of us do it, but I believe success depends on both of us pulling together in the same direction and jointly moving the global community to action.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve also been asked whether the United States understands China’s core interests and whether the United States takes those interests seriously.  I think we do:  China wants to develop as a stable, harmonious and prosperous society; it wants to have a role in helping shape the global community.  I am persuaded that U.S. actions throughout our 30-year bilateral diplomatic history, from working on China’s accession to the World Trade Organization and promoting a peaceful Asia-Pacific community to promoting energy conservation and efficiency and environmental protection, demonstrate how aware we are of the importance you place on development and enhancing the quality of life of the people of China.  

Of course, the proximate cause of the recent criticism in the Chinese press is the recent announcement of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.  We recognize the strong feelings that the people of China have regarding sovereignty; our acknowledgement in 1972 that “all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China and Taiwan is a part of China” allowed us to resume a relationship that had been estranged for nearly a quarter century.  In the 38 years since that recognition, East Asia has become much more stable.  The old tensions, the old security concerns, and the lack of direct engagement across the Strait have today been replaced by human connections, better understanding and serious dialogue.  I commend China’s leadership for building confidence between the people of Taiwan and the mainland.  But I also believe that U.S. policies during this time have played an important role in helping create a better, stronger, and more confident cross-Strait dynamic and a more peaceful, prosperous and secure Asia-Pacific region.

The U.S.-China relationship is the most complex and vital relationship in the world today.   We cannot, we must not, allow our disagreements to negate aspects of our relationship that are so critical to the region and the world.  My hope is that we move forward and get on with our important work – whether it’s on the global economy, regional security, climate change and cleaner energy.  Improving the human condition for people in both our countries should always drive the priorities on which our relationship is based.

I wish all of you a prosperous and peaceful Year of the Tiger.