-Caveat Lector- WJPBR Email News List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Peace at any cost is a Prelude to War! China’s Policy of Distraction Involves Japan 13 December 2000 Summary Chinese parliamentary leader Li Peng told opposition Japanese politicians in Beijing that Japan “must have its own voice” in politics and security. He also said that Japanese forces are sufficient to defend Japan, and U.S. troops stationed there are a “symbol of U.S. hegemony.” Beijing is increasingly concerned that its interests will bring it into conflict with the United States in the future. To delay or avoid such a confrontation, Beijing is undertaking a policy of distraction, actively seeking to drive a wedge between Washington and its regional allies. Analysis Chinese parliamentary leader Li Peng told a Japanese political delegation to Beijing that Tokyo “must have its own voice” in international issues, according to Kyodo. Li, chairman of the standing committee of China’s National People’s Congress, was speaking with Hajime Ishii, vice president of Japan’s opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ). Li told Ishii that Japan’s defense forces were capable of defending Japan, calling U.S. forces in Japan a “symbol of U.S. hegemony.” Li’s comments are part of an emerging Chinese policy of distraction aimed at the United States. Beijing is concerned that its own interests and those of Washington will inevitably clash, but China is not prepared to confront the United States at this time. Instead, it is seeking ways to undermine the close coordination between Washington and its Asian allies – particularly South Korea and Japan. China and the United States have long maintained cautious relations. While Washington used ties with Beijing to counter Moscow during the Cold War, it continued to offer military support to rival Taipei. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, U.S. troops remained in Northeast Asia to balance China, as well as to counter a potential North Korean threat. More recently, Washington has supported China’s entry into the World Trade Organization in hopes of using economic incentives to influence Chinese policy. The U.S. military remains concerned about the future threat China poses to U.S. interests in Asia, and Washington intends to prepare accordingly. Close U.S. regional allies have similar concerns. This was most recently seen in Australia’s defense white paper, which says relations between China, Japan and the United States will define security in Asia and cautions that the U.S.-China relationship “may be a significant source of tension” in the future. Beijing is concerned with what it terms U.S. hegemony, an overwhelming and unbalanced ability to influence global events, including those in China’s backyard. This led Beijing to enter into a closer relationship with Moscow as a counterbalance, a relationship that faces severe strains from competing regional economic and security interests. Without Moscow to balance Washington’s economic and political influence in Asia, Beijing has shifted tactics. The fracturing ties with Russia are compounded by the potential for a new U.S. administration, one that could shift Washington’s China policy from engagement to a more cautious stance. The Chinese government is now undertaking a series of initiatives to distract Washington, keeping it occupied with its own allies rather than focusing on potential threats from China. In this way, Beijing hopes to avoid, or at least delay, a future clash with the United States. Li Peng’s comments to the DPJ leadership exemplify Beijing’s emerging policy of distraction. China and Japan have a historic relationship of animosity. Despite this, Li shied away from its traditional confrontational stance, which would only strengthen Japanese security ties to the United States. Instead, Li said Japan would likely “become a major political power in the future.” Li then went on to urge Japan to pursue an independent foreign policy. Li further suggested that Japan’s defense forces were sufficient to defend Japan, and U.S. troops effectively undermined Japan’s independence. Li offered to assist Japan in its diplomatic efforts with North Korea. This, in effect, would reduce regional security threats to Japan, further weakening the need for U.S. troops to remain on Japanese soil. China’s actions are not limited to Japan. In South Korea, China fostered the current round of inter-Korean reconciliation, which released latent South Korean sentiment opposed to the U.S. troop presence on the Korean Peninsula. At the same time, Beijing has tacitly accepted the continued presence of U.S. forces even after reconciliation. Beijing is walking a delicate line in suggesting the reduction of U.S. troops. Washington’s forces in Asia not only counter North Korea and China, but also moderate defense expansions by Japan, South Korea and Russia. This avoids a potentially dangerous regional arms race, one that China wishes to avoid. The Chinese government’s ultimate goal is to drive a wedge between the United States and its regional allies, but not necessarily to tear them apart. In doing so, Washington’s defense establishment is focused on repairing and maintaining cooperation with its allies in Northeast Asia. The attention paid there buys China time to prepare for or avoid a future conflict with the United States. *COPYRIGHT NOTICE** In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. 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