Max Baucus: US, China still need each other

It is true that China and the United States are quite different, but the two countries need each other — economically, politically and geopolitically — said Max Baucus, who served as ambassador to China from 2014 to 2017.

In his recent keynote speech at the Washington State China Relationship Council's 40th Anniversary Gala on Oct 24 in Seattle, Baucus spoke fondly of his time in Beijing. He explained how he came to understand how to effectively engage with senior officials of the Chinese government.

More than 300 people, including many dignitaries, participated in the event that paid tribute to the council's long history of working to improve relations between Washington state and China.

Having been in public service for 45 years focused on China, particularly on trade, Baucus, 77, said he is optimistic but also realistic about the most important bilateral relationship in the world, as the two countries are close to finalizing "phase one" of a trade agreement.

Baucus closed with his observations about the differences between the two countries' political systems and presented his ideas on how the US must address its internal issues to remain a strong international power.

"We should strengthen our economy to be much stronger at home. The things to be done include the infrastructure, education and all the things that make our country great. Economic power is the best projection of political power," Baucus said.

"The primary difficulty here is China's rise is new to America. China's development during the past 40 years is credible. How has it happened? It makes lot of America feel worried. Americans think we are the best country in the world. We think our values are the best, based on the independence, the institutions, rights. … Now we are not the best, we are who we are. China is who China is."

"And because of our differences, it is hard for the US to trust China because trust is based on transparency for any relationship between people, between counties."

When Baucus was representing Montana in the US Senate (1978-2014), he strongly supported permanent normal trade relations with China, and later, China's accession to the World Trade Organization.

"I did that because I felt it made much more sense for China be part of the world. I knew that bringing China into the WTO would benefit the United States, benefit China and benefit the world, and it has," Baucus said.

"China's rise presented certain challenges; it also held out tremendous promise." Baucus said.

"American people need to go to China, see China, taste China, and know what it is," Baucus said, adding that Chinese people are wonderful and that China wants to work with United States.