Rice's China visit: Balancing the China-US relationship
- By Ji Mingkui
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E-mail China.org.cn, September 18, 2014
Susan Rice is seen as one of the most trusted advisors to U.S. President Barack Obama, and some believe that she has even greater influence on Washington's foreign policy than Secretary of State John Kerry. Therefore, her recent visit to China, which came at a new low point in U.S.-Russia relationship and the rampant ISIS activities, demonstrates the importance Obama attaches to China.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with U.S. President Barack Obama's National Security Advisor Susan Rice in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 9, 2014. [Xinhua/Zhang Duo] |
The purpose of Rice's visit was to prepare for the summit meeting between the two countries' leaders due in November. But given the two nations' leverage in global affairs, Rice's visit is of global significance.
Though the two nations have forged a consensus to build a new type of major power relationship, the relationship has grown less reassuring in the past six months, the latest example being the military aircraft encounter in the South China Sea. Thus the aim of Rice's visit was to help stabilize the bilateral relationship and create a sound environment for the Xi-Obama meeting.
During her visit, the first after she assumed office fifteen months ago, Rice emphasized that the relationship with China is "a priority" for the United States, and Obama's November visit will be a "milestone" for the bilateral relations. Her visit was intended to "salvage" U.S.-China relations as some U.S. newspapers said.
During her visit, Rice expressed a wish for China to join the anti-ISIS coalition that Obama is forging.
President Xi Jinping emphasized that China and the United States should reinforce exchanges on climate change, counter-terrorism and major international and regional hot issues. State Council Yang Jiechi also said the two sides should expand cooperation on economics and trade, fighting terrorism, military and people-to-people exchanges. Fighting terrorism was mentioned twice, but jointly combating ISIS is not China's intention.
China has taken a consistent stance against terrorism, and is willing to provide political and economic support and even intelligence, but it will not adopt a double standard on terrorism or even breed terrorism for political intent.
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