Center’s Jim Webb Explains ‘What to Do About China’

(Washington, D.C.): Today’s New York Times features an exceedingly timely
op.ed. article about
the danger posed by an expansionist China, written by a distinguished member of the Center for
Security Policy’s Board of Advisors: former Secretary of the Navy James
Webb. Combining a
commitment to principle and a clarity of vision that characterized his service to the Nation in
numerous capacities — notably as a Marine in Vietnam and as a senior Pentagon official during the
Reagan Administration — with a powerful writing style that has made him a best-selling author
several times over, the attached article should be considered
required reading for all Americans.

Among the most important points made by in this essay are the following (emphasis added
throughout):

• Mr. Webb’s forceful warning about the dangers of “reaching a one-sided
  rapprochement with China.” Just how appallingly “one-sided” the U.S.-PRC
  relationship
  has become is evident in a news analysis published on the front-page of today’s Washington
  Times. It describes various ways in which President Clinton’s upcoming trip to China has
  been
  manipulated by Beijing to maximize its symbolic value to the Communist regime — and to
  undermine America’s ties with other nations in the region. As “a U.S. official with long
  experience in Asia” told the Times “Clinton’s going to kow-tow all over
  Beijing.”

• Mr. Webb’s observation that this unbalanced “rapprochement” with Beijing comes
  at a
  cost. “The Clinton Administration, buttressed by endorsements from former Republican
  officials, speaks wanly of a strategic partnership with China. Our crucial
  alliance with
  Japan has been strained. Our position in the rest of Asia is being undermined as we shift
  longstanding trade patterns away from countries with strong preferences for the free market
  and democracy in favor of China.”

• Mr. Webb’s condemnation of the Clinton Administration’s “benign approach” to
  Chinese repression and corruption at home and overseas adventurism /– as Mr. Webb
  puts it “expansionism” — in the Muslim world and in U.S. political life.

Secretary Webb proceeds to describe a series of measures the U.S. should be taking to
put
relations with Japan, India, Israel and Russia on a footing that would better enable this country to
contend with the dangers of an expansionist China. In calling for a refocusing of American policy
towards the PRC, he acknowledges that:

“Beyond doubt, China will object to such a refocusing of policy with accusations of an
attempt to ‘contain’ legitimate Chinese interests. But every expansionist power in this
century has made similar claims against those who have tried to quell their aggression.
And it is China, through its internal repression, encouragement of nuclear proliferation,
and even the possible manipulation of our political process that has made such efforts
necessary.”

The Center commends Jim Webb for this, his most recent contribution to American
security
policy — and urges those who currently are responsible for making it to heed this wise counsel.