China-US: "prepare for the worst, hope for the best."

U.S. taking harder line toward China — on all fronts By Sol Sanders, Jun. 9, 05

Sol W. Sanders, (solsanders@comcast.net), is an Asian specialist with more than 25 years in the region, and a former correspondent for Business Week, U.S. News & World Report and United Press International. He writes weekly for World Tribune.com.

Despite continued pressure to soften it from State, and perhaps CIA, holding up The Pentagon's annual review of the Chinese military [due in March], the Bush Administration's line appears to be hardening. The evidence is apparent on all fronts, economic, strategic and diplomatic.

[. . . . ] Washington has stepped up verbal assault on other economic problems such as notorious Chinese intellectual property piracy. [An Indian IT executive, for example, said a bumper sticker floated in the honeymoon following Chinese Prime Minister Wen's visit touting an Indian software-Chinese hardware IT worldwide juggernaut is a non-starter. He said association with the 90 percent of China's software which is stolen would jeopardize India's outsourcing and investment relationship with the U.S., Europe, and Japan.] A trade association says Chinese theft for moviemakers, software companies and music labels alone was $2.5 billion last year. Secretary of Commerce Gutierrez maiden visit was unable to get even token “gift” concessions on this or on textile imports ballooning over last year's $10 billion after China's takeover of other producers' turf when the world textile cartel terminated. [. . . . ]

But, in fact, Beijing has begun a new crackdown on dissidents and internet communications. [. . . . ]

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