China Facing Greater Scrutiny from the International Community
NISHIKAWA Megumi / Journalist
March 29, 2016
China is facing greater scrutiny from the international community. Over the past 38 years since announcing its reform and open door policy in 1978, China has made phenomenal strides in its economy, spurred on by the spirit of goodwill and cooperation shown by the international community. But such a favorable view of China appears to be changing into alarm and suspicion.
China has continued to display intimating behavior in the East China Sea. It is developing artificial islands in the South China Sea, effectively reneging on President Xi Jinping's promise of not building any military bases. Many of the cyber attacks on government institutions and corporations in Japan and the United States originate in China. The country is also tightening its grip on its domestic media and human rights activists; Chinese authorities are strongly suspected of being involved in the disappearance of Hong Kong publishers.
In late March, the Indonesian government strongly protested an incident in the South China Sea, in which its attempt at policing a Chinese trawler illegally fishing in Indonesian waters was obstructed by a Chinese coast guard vessel. We should note that Indonesia had been reluctant to cross China in the past. Until a few years ago, there were varying views on China in the international community, but now even countries that had maintained neutrality are being pushed into the opposition camp.
China's disorderly behavior is rooted in the authoritarian nature of its governing regime. The country has publicly pledged to double its GDP and per capita income during the ten-year period to 2020. This would require a minimum annual growth rate of 6.5 percent. Will China be able to achieve this goal in the face of its deteriorating overall image?
The major factor behind China's remarkable economic growth had been the friendly external environment in which it found itself. And it was not only due to the stability of the situation surrounding the country. China had also benefited from the favorable and cooperative international public opinion towards the country and the dynamics of international politics, which saw China as a "model country that was cooperating with the West." It was a more than welcome development for China, which took maximum advantage of this external environment to entice the international community, including Japan, to provide generous aid.
China remained in isolation long after World War II. What triggered the surge in international attention and interest in the country was the visit paid by US President Richard Nixon in 1972. Along with respect for its ancient civilization and sympathy for the way it was overrun by powerful nations during its modern history, it was the international circumstances at the time that presented the greatest opportunity for China to cultivate its positive image. It was at the height of the US-Soviet rivalry, and since your "enemy's enemy is a friend," China was incorporated into the Cold War strategy of the United States. In comparison with the Soviet Union, which was described as an "evil empire" by US President Ronald Reagan, China became a "benevolent country deserving of support" that was cooperating with the West, including Japan and the United States.
On its part, China tactfully used the international situation to its advantage. For example, China was never criticized for consistently supporting the Pol Pot regime in Cambodia, which was responsible for the genocide of its people. In contrast, Vietnam was slapped with economic sanctions when it invaded Cambodia and toppled Pol Pot in 1978. In the following year, when China launched its military invasion into Vietnam, most countries let it pass with no more than a perfunctory expression of concern. And in 1988, when China grabbed the Spratly Islands, which were effectively controlled by Vietnam, the response from the international community was again muted.
Michael Pillsbury is a consultant for the US Department of Defense and scholar of strategic defense against China. In his much talked about latest book, "The Hundred Year Marathon," Pillsbury points out that by trusting China's goodwill, successive US administrations have caused an "unprecedented drain" of expert US knowledge and technology in the areas of science, military affairs and nuclear power.
In 1989, the Tiananmen Square protests presented China with its greatest challenge, but the government overcame the crisis through Deng Xiaoping's "southern tour," in which he called for a further acceleration of the reform and open door policy. Since then, China has capitalized on the cooperation and goodwill of the international community, absorbing investments and technologies from advanced nations, while gaining membership in the World Trade Organization in 2001 and hosting the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.
China's recent history clearly demonstrates how economic development is only possible under a favorable international political climate. China should take a moment to humbly reflect upon this fact. If China intends to continue pushing its brute force logic that only works for itself, it will risk destroying the very foundation of its economic growth and bring about its own downfall.
Megumi Nishikawa is contributing editor for the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper.
China has continued to display intimating behavior in the East China Sea. It is developing artificial islands in the South China Sea, effectively reneging on President Xi Jinping's promise of not building any military bases. Many of the cyber attacks on government institutions and corporations in Japan and the United States originate in China. The country is also tightening its grip on its domestic media and human rights activists; Chinese authorities are strongly suspected of being involved in the disappearance of Hong Kong publishers.
In late March, the Indonesian government strongly protested an incident in the South China Sea, in which its attempt at policing a Chinese trawler illegally fishing in Indonesian waters was obstructed by a Chinese coast guard vessel. We should note that Indonesia had been reluctant to cross China in the past. Until a few years ago, there were varying views on China in the international community, but now even countries that had maintained neutrality are being pushed into the opposition camp.
China's disorderly behavior is rooted in the authoritarian nature of its governing regime. The country has publicly pledged to double its GDP and per capita income during the ten-year period to 2020. This would require a minimum annual growth rate of 6.5 percent. Will China be able to achieve this goal in the face of its deteriorating overall image?
The major factor behind China's remarkable economic growth had been the friendly external environment in which it found itself. And it was not only due to the stability of the situation surrounding the country. China had also benefited from the favorable and cooperative international public opinion towards the country and the dynamics of international politics, which saw China as a "model country that was cooperating with the West." It was a more than welcome development for China, which took maximum advantage of this external environment to entice the international community, including Japan, to provide generous aid.
China remained in isolation long after World War II. What triggered the surge in international attention and interest in the country was the visit paid by US President Richard Nixon in 1972. Along with respect for its ancient civilization and sympathy for the way it was overrun by powerful nations during its modern history, it was the international circumstances at the time that presented the greatest opportunity for China to cultivate its positive image. It was at the height of the US-Soviet rivalry, and since your "enemy's enemy is a friend," China was incorporated into the Cold War strategy of the United States. In comparison with the Soviet Union, which was described as an "evil empire" by US President Ronald Reagan, China became a "benevolent country deserving of support" that was cooperating with the West, including Japan and the United States.
On its part, China tactfully used the international situation to its advantage. For example, China was never criticized for consistently supporting the Pol Pot regime in Cambodia, which was responsible for the genocide of its people. In contrast, Vietnam was slapped with economic sanctions when it invaded Cambodia and toppled Pol Pot in 1978. In the following year, when China launched its military invasion into Vietnam, most countries let it pass with no more than a perfunctory expression of concern. And in 1988, when China grabbed the Spratly Islands, which were effectively controlled by Vietnam, the response from the international community was again muted.
Michael Pillsbury is a consultant for the US Department of Defense and scholar of strategic defense against China. In his much talked about latest book, "The Hundred Year Marathon," Pillsbury points out that by trusting China's goodwill, successive US administrations have caused an "unprecedented drain" of expert US knowledge and technology in the areas of science, military affairs and nuclear power.
In 1989, the Tiananmen Square protests presented China with its greatest challenge, but the government overcame the crisis through Deng Xiaoping's "southern tour," in which he called for a further acceleration of the reform and open door policy. Since then, China has capitalized on the cooperation and goodwill of the international community, absorbing investments and technologies from advanced nations, while gaining membership in the World Trade Organization in 2001 and hosting the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.
China's recent history clearly demonstrates how economic development is only possible under a favorable international political climate. China should take a moment to humbly reflect upon this fact. If China intends to continue pushing its brute force logic that only works for itself, it will risk destroying the very foundation of its economic growth and bring about its own downfall.
Megumi Nishikawa is contributing editor for the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper.
The English-Speaking Union of Japan
厳しくなる国際社会の対中観
西川 恵 / ジャーナリスト
2016年 3月 29日
中国に対する国際社会の視線が厳しくなっている。１９７８年の改革開放から38年、国際社会の善意と協調姿勢を追い風に、驚異的な経済躍進を遂げてきた中国だが、国際社会の好意的な見方は、警戒と懐疑心に変わりつつあるように思われる。
中国は東シナ海で威圧的な行動を続ける。南シナ海では人工島を造成し、「軍事基地化しない」との習近平国家主席の約束も反故同然だ。日米などの政府機関や企業へのサイバー攻撃も多くが中国を発信源としている。国内のメディアや人権活動家に対する抑圧も強まっている。香港の出版人の行方不明にも中国当局関わっている可能性が濃厚だ。
３月下旬には、南シナ海で違法操業する中国漁船を取り締まったインドネシア当局の艦船が中国海洋局の船に妨害され、インドネシア政府が強く抗議した。これまで中国に遠慮気味だったインドネシアである。数年前まで、まだ国際社会の対中観はまだら模様だったが、いまは中立的だった国までも反対側に追いやっている。
中国の乱暴な振る舞いは、体制の強権的体質に発している。同国は２０２０年までに国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）と国民１人当たりの所得を10年比で倍増させる公約を掲げている。しかしこの達成には「最低でも年６・５％成長」が必要だ。中国の全般的なイメージ悪化にあってこれは可能だろうか。
中国の経済躍進の大きな要因は恵まれた外部環境にあった。これは単に同国を取り巻く情勢が安定していたというだけではない。中国への好意的で協調的な国際世論と、中国を「西側と協調する模範的な国」と見なした国際政治の力学。この中国にとって願ってもない外部環境が、日米をはじめとする国際社会から大きな支援を引き出す武器となった。
戦後、長く孤立していた中国に国際社会の関心と興味が急速に高まった契機は72年のニクソン米大統領の訪中だった。中国文明への尊敬や、列強に蹂躙されてきた近代史への同情もあったが、同国が好イメージを広げる上で大きな追い風となったのは時の国際情勢だ。米ソ対立のさなかにあって、中国は「敵の敵は味方」として米国の冷戦戦略に組み込まれた。レーガン米大統領が「悪の帝国」と形容したソ連との対比において、改革開放路線を採用して日米を含む西側と協調する中国は「手助けすべき善意の国」となった。
中国もこの国際情勢を巧みに利用した。例えば中国は住民を大量虐殺したカンボジアのポル・ポト政権を一貫して支援したが、批判を受けなかった。逆にベトナムが78年にカンボジアに侵攻してポル・ポト政権を倒すと、ベトナムに経済制裁が科せられた。翌79年、中国が対越軍事侵攻した時も、多くの国が軽い懸念表明ですませた。88年、ベトナムが実効支配する南沙諸島を中国が力で奪った時も国際社会の反応は鈍かった。
米国防総省顧問で対中防衛政策の研究者マイケル・ピルズベリー氏は、話題の近著『中国 ２０４９』で、中国の善意を信じた歴代米政権によって米国の科学、軍事、原子力などの分野において「専門知識と技術の史上最大の流出を招いた」と指摘している。
中国にとって大きな試練は89年の天安門事件だったが、改革開放の再加速を号令した鄧小平の南巡講話で乗り切った。その後は先進国から投資と技術を取り入れる一方、２００１年の世界貿易機関（ＷＴＯ）加盟、08年の北京五輪と、国際社会の協力と善意をフルに生かした。
順風の国際政治環境の中でこそ中国は経済発展が可能なことはその歩みが示している。中国はこの事実をいま一度謙虚に振り返るべきだろう。自国にしか通じない論理を力で押し通そうとすれば、経済成長を支えてきた土台が崩れ、自身の首を絞めることになる。
(筆者は毎日新聞客員編集委員）
中国は東シナ海で威圧的な行動を続ける。南シナ海では人工島を造成し、「軍事基地化しない」との習近平国家主席の約束も反故同然だ。日米などの政府機関や企業へのサイバー攻撃も多くが中国を発信源としている。国内のメディアや人権活動家に対する抑圧も強まっている。香港の出版人の行方不明にも中国当局関わっている可能性が濃厚だ。
３月下旬には、南シナ海で違法操業する中国漁船を取り締まったインドネシア当局の艦船が中国海洋局の船に妨害され、インドネシア政府が強く抗議した。これまで中国に遠慮気味だったインドネシアである。数年前まで、まだ国際社会の対中観はまだら模様だったが、いまは中立的だった国までも反対側に追いやっている。
中国の乱暴な振る舞いは、体制の強権的体質に発している。同国は２０２０年までに国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）と国民１人当たりの所得を10年比で倍増させる公約を掲げている。しかしこの達成には「最低でも年６・５％成長」が必要だ。中国の全般的なイメージ悪化にあってこれは可能だろうか。
中国の経済躍進の大きな要因は恵まれた外部環境にあった。これは単に同国を取り巻く情勢が安定していたというだけではない。中国への好意的で協調的な国際世論と、中国を「西側と協調する模範的な国」と見なした国際政治の力学。この中国にとって願ってもない外部環境が、日米をはじめとする国際社会から大きな支援を引き出す武器となった。
戦後、長く孤立していた中国に国際社会の関心と興味が急速に高まった契機は72年のニクソン米大統領の訪中だった。中国文明への尊敬や、列強に蹂躙されてきた近代史への同情もあったが、同国が好イメージを広げる上で大きな追い風となったのは時の国際情勢だ。米ソ対立のさなかにあって、中国は「敵の敵は味方」として米国の冷戦戦略に組み込まれた。レーガン米大統領が「悪の帝国」と形容したソ連との対比において、改革開放路線を採用して日米を含む西側と協調する中国は「手助けすべき善意の国」となった。
中国もこの国際情勢を巧みに利用した。例えば中国は住民を大量虐殺したカンボジアのポル・ポト政権を一貫して支援したが、批判を受けなかった。逆にベトナムが78年にカンボジアに侵攻してポル・ポト政権を倒すと、ベトナムに経済制裁が科せられた。翌79年、中国が対越軍事侵攻した時も、多くの国が軽い懸念表明ですませた。88年、ベトナムが実効支配する南沙諸島を中国が力で奪った時も国際社会の反応は鈍かった。
米国防総省顧問で対中防衛政策の研究者マイケル・ピルズベリー氏は、話題の近著『中国 ２０４９』で、中国の善意を信じた歴代米政権によって米国の科学、軍事、原子力などの分野において「専門知識と技術の史上最大の流出を招いた」と指摘している。
中国にとって大きな試練は89年の天安門事件だったが、改革開放の再加速を号令した鄧小平の南巡講話で乗り切った。その後は先進国から投資と技術を取り入れる一方、２００１年の世界貿易機関（ＷＴＯ）加盟、08年の北京五輪と、国際社会の協力と善意をフルに生かした。
順風の国際政治環境の中でこそ中国は経済発展が可能なことはその歩みが示している。中国はこの事実をいま一度謙虚に振り返るべきだろう。自国にしか通じない論理を力で押し通そうとすれば、経済成長を支えてきた土台が崩れ、自身の首を絞めることになる。
(筆者は毎日新聞客員編集委員）
一般社団法人 日本英語交流連盟