At the fifth round of the China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue held during July in Washington, D.C., U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said China needs to undertake more international responsibilities along with its economic growth. In response, Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei said while some countries expect China to serve as a locomotive that drives global economic recovery, China’s role is limited. Experts echoed Lou by saying global economic development requires the joint efforts of all countries. There is no reason whatsoever to put the burden solely on China, a responsibility that the emerging economy is not able to shoulder. In the face of growing calls for it to assume more responsibilities in the international community, China should keep a sober mind, they added.

Undue responsibilities

Given China’s rising status in the world economy following the outbreak of the global financial crisis, international commentators called on China to undertake more responsibilities while hailing its economic achievements. In their view, many problems in the world economy are attributable to China. They argued that China should not only take the blame for global economic imbalance, but also be responsible for saving the world economy. Later, they also came up with theories on China’s responsibilities as a trade surplus nation, a creditor, a country with a high savings rate, a major energy consumer and a large greenhouse gas emitter. By hyping such rhetoric, they attempted to create public opinion unfavorable to China’s long-term development.

Due to differences in values and social systems, Western countries have long observed China through a biased lens, Chinese experts said. From predicting “China’s collapse” to touting the “China threat” and “China’s responsibilities,” such attempts are intended to negate and interfere with the country’s economic development model. These theories, which deny China’s positive role in promoting the recovery of the world economy and hold it accountable for tight global resource supply, come down to the assertion that China poses an economic threat.

“Developed Western countries have played up China’s responsibilities once again because they want to divert international attention,” Bai Ming, Deputy Director of the Department of International Commodity Market at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told People’s Daily Overseas Edition. At the same time, Bai added, they want to exert heavier pressure on China, a means that Western countries often resort to in order to hedge against its rise. Previously, the United States long urged the country to revaluate its currency and open up more markets, demands that China finds unacceptable.

Unfair rules

“The underlying motive behind the United States’ demand that China assume more responsibilities is that the latter should engage in ‘fair’ competition with Western countries, in keeping with the rules formulated by the United States and other Western countries,” said Sun Zhe, Director of the Center for U.S.-China Relations at Tsinghua University. It is unfair for China to abide by rules devised by the West. Ben Bernanke, Chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, recently ratcheted up old rhetoric by accusing China of manipulating Renminbiexchange rate. But before launching its quantitative easing policy, the United States did not consult Chinese interests.

Experts believe Western countries have yet to come to terms with China’s rapid development over the past decade. Now that various measures designed to rein in China have failed, they have sought to force the country to undertake responsibilities beyond its power, citing the huge size of the country’s economy and its rapid recovery in the wake of the global financial crisis. They have also tried to compel China to observe Western standards in fields such as energy exploitation, climate change and overseas investment.

It should be noted that while finding fault with China on the ground that it should undertake more responsibilities, other countries hope to capitalize on China’s growth. Bai said developed countries wish to get a bigger slice of the pie by gaining more business opportunities in China, especially in emerging industries of strategic importance. Developing countries, however, hope that China will invest and set up factories on their soil to help create more job opportunities. They also hope to export more products to China.

Remaining undisturbed

Despite the fact that China remains a large developing country, developed nations have gone out of their way to emphasize its big power status. On the one hand, the development opportunities China has seized while taking part in the globalization process have aroused jealousy. On the other hand, Western countries, which find themselves unable to address the myriad of problems concerning balanced development of the global economy, expect China to play a bigger role. As a result, hyping its economic responsibilities has become a regular public opinion tool to “standardize” China’s development path and curb its rise, a trend that calls for great caution.

“The country is unable to and should not shoulder responsibilities incommensurate with its rights and obligations,” Sun said. China is the largest trade partner of 120 countries. It has lived up to expectations as it contributes to other countries’ economic development with its inexpensive and hardworking labor force at the cost of its own environment.

Bai said China should not be disturbed by Western rhetoric. Although it has honored a wide range of international commitments, its efforts are hardly known in the international community. It is therefore imperative that China publicize what it has done. It has no reason to suffer a bad reputation given the funds and efforts it has committed. Moreover, Bai added that China should be prudent in choosing projects when undertaking international obligations. Instead of blindly and unconditionally providing assistance to other countries, it should carry out mutually beneficial cooperation. In other words, it should seek more development opportunities for itself while helping other countries.