China's Relationship with the United States

http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/politicalcartoons/ig/Political-Cartoons/U-S-China-Flag.htm

http://humanrightsblogucf.blogspot.com/2011/01/human-rights-violations-in-china.html

http://www.saveyourrights.com/category/foreign-policy/china-foreign-policy/

http://www.chinalegalblog.com/2007/10/12/170/

http://ceoworld.biz/ceo/2010/11/21/chinas-attempt-to-convince-us-causing-rapid-inflation-luojie-political-cartoon

Course Description:

In a 21st century of globalization will China become a threat to the United States? Does China see the United States as a threat to its intentions as a superpower? And what indeed are those intentions given what capabilities the Chinese now and will possess? Will China pursue a policy of a "peaceful rise" as it inexorably moves forward to become the world's largest economy, or does its military buildup suggest some kind of "triumphal nationalism" as it works to reassert its Middle Kingdom status of old? How should the United States respond? What to do about human rights, for example, when our economies are so intertwined? After providing important historical context for these questions, the class will examine various aspects of the China-U.S. relationship: cultural, political and economic, energy/environmental, diplomatic, and military and security. We will conclude by proposing and discussing policy options for the leadership of both countries.

Additional questions generated by the class:

1) Is China's rise and assertiveness primarily economic or military in nature, or a combination of both?

2) What does the future China-United States relationship hold in terms trade imbalances, tariff policies, manufacturing competitiveness, and debt and currency issues?

3) What is China's "agenda" in terms of its foreign investment; for example, its pursuit of natural resources (e.g. fossil fuels) around the globe, and how might that agenda affect relations with the U.S.?

4) What impact does China's ethnic (and linguistic) diversity have on U.S. foreign policy?

5) What does the concept of national sovereignty mean for both China and the U.S. in an age of globalization? (e.g., in the area of international treaties)? 

6) Can anything be done about U.S. intellectual property concerns in China? 

7) Will China become more democratic? Will it ever treat its dissidents differently? Does it matter in terms of its coexistence with the U.S. as world powers?

8) Are there issues that might affect China's stability (economic prosperity, inflation, rich and poor, demographic change--rural to urban--, effects of the "One-Child" policy), which in turn would have an impact on China's relationship with the U.S.?

9) What are the key elements for the Chinese in establishing successful diplomacy with the U.S.? for the Americans?

10) What have been the consequences of the Nixon visit to China? How motivated are China and the United States in reaching a mutual understanding of foreign policy priorities, goals, strategies and tactics?

11) Are China and the U.S. equal partners in the world right now? How did that happen? If they are not, then will they be, or might China become "number one?"

Topical Outline by Class:

Class 1: Historical Perspectives: Chinese and American

Class 2: Mao's China and the United States: 1949-1970

Class 3: Deng's China and the U.S.: 1971-1989

Class 4: Jiang's and Hu's China and the U.S.: 1989-Present

Class 5: China-U.S. Economic Relationship since 2000

Class 6: China-U.S. Cultural Relationship, Part I

Class 7: China-U.S. Cultural Relationship, Part II

Class 8: "Is a Booming China a Threat to the United States?": China-U.S. Military/Security & Economic Relationship & Public Policy Options for the Future 

Link to China in Revolution page (CALL class, Spring 2011)