Bush administration favors a "strong" China!

"The United States seeks a strong, prosperous and transforming China, and we support strong economic and political ties between the EU and China," stated Peter Rodman, assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, during an April 14 congressional hearing. In the same hearing, R. Nicholas Burns, undersecretary of state for political affairs, recalled the words of President Bush during a 2002 visit to Beijing: "China is on a rising path and America welcomes the emergence of a strong and peaceful and prosperous China."

William R. Hawkins, senior fellow for national security affairs at the U.S. Business and Industrial Council, found these comments to be both outrageous and sadly typical of U.S. economic and defense policy. "A 'peaceful' China, yes," wrote Hawkins in an April 20 commentary. "A 'prosperous' China, maybe. It depends on the source of that prosperity. An ever-increasing trade deficit with Beijing, which may well top $200 billion this year, is an unacceptable transfer of wealth from America to China."

"The ability to boost military spending is a fnnction of being 'prosperous,'" continues Hawkins, "and the massive American trade deficit with China gives Beijing the hard currency needed to finance foreign weapon acquisitions--mostly Russian systems designed to attack American targets. As for 'transforming,' it seems Beijing is only moving from a moribund communism to an energetic fascism. Is it really so difficult to connect the dots?"