By Wang Yusheng (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-12-27 07:24

The following is the third part of a series on the complexities and trends in international relations over the past year.

The contradictions and interactions between value-driven and interest-driven policies have long existed in history and continue to this day.

In the last two years, such contradictions and interactions have become increasingly apparent in the policies of the United States, Japan and some EU countries toward China as the later develops dynamically and its comprehensive national strength is advanced.

The complex situation, which is likely to last for some time, will have an impact on international relations.

US, Japan and, to certain extent, Australia, Germany and some EU countries still cling to the "Cold War" mindset when observing and dealing with international issues. They still view China as an "alternative nation", portraying it as "a country standing at a strategic crossroads" and therefore risks should be averted when developing relations with Beijing.

They also espouse "value diplomacy" and call for the establishment of a "democratic alliance" when dealing with China. They have even tried inviting India to join such an alliance. Their strategic objective is to "integrate" China into their projected path.

When the approach fails, they resort to contain or block China. However, they have found they simply cannot walk away from China and it is impossible to address major international issues without China's cooperation and support.

Furthermore, they cannot turn a blind eye to China's long-standing strategy to rejuvenate the nation through peace and cooperation.

Economically, the interdependence between them and China in many fields has increased dramatically as the economies of the world are increasingly integrated, leading to greater convergence of common interests. These countries need markets, investment and cooperation from China. China is also in need of them. But economic and trade frictions still exist, sometimes they are fairly acute (especially with the US and the EU).

The policies of the US, Japan, and some EU countries toward China has led to the two-pronged approach - value-driven and interest-driven. These policies try to seek a balancing point.

An absolute balance, however, is non-existent and therefore these policies are always skewed accordingly, depending on the issues and circumstances. Such a situation exerts a negative influence on the world, and Beijing's relations with Washington, Tokyo and Brussels, and in particular Sino-US relations and cooperation in East Asia.

It is unrealistic for Washington and Tokyo to immediately discard their two-pronged policies toward China. This, however, is not tantamount to saying that we cannot do anything about it. Imagine what the situation would be in the world if China followed the "Cold War" mentality.

The Chinese leadership has remained somber-minded and has continued on the road to peaceful development. China has abided by its policies of good neighborly relations, building a harmonious world and a harmonious Asia Pacific family, which was inscribed in APEC's Hanoi Declaration last year and to which the US was not opposed.

It is hoped that the negative policies adopted by these countries will gradually diminish to be replaced by more positive ones.

The author is a researcher of international relations based in Beijing

(China Daily 12/27/2007 page11)