The prospect of inadvertent military run-ins are becoming a more real concern as the USA considers flying reconnaissance planes within the 12 nautical mile “airspace” over artificial Chinese islands in the South China Sea. In recent months, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management disclosed that hackers had stolen more than 21 million security clearance investigation records from government files, and some top officials and USA lawmakers accused Chinese hackers of perpetrating the attack.
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When Scott Walker, the Republican governor of Wisconsin, recently suggested Xi be denied a full state visit – with its symbolic recognition of China as an equal partner – he was shot down by his own party. Chinese officials, who are focused on growing into a great power, “don’t buy the distinction”, Glaser said.
And many are concerned that Beijing does not have a firm hand on the sudden downturn of its economy – the world’s second largest – which has fueled turmoil in global financial markets. “That’s a unsafe and short-sighted view”, Susan Rice told an audience at George Washington University on Monday.
All acts of corruption must be dealt with, Xi said.
Rein says the business environment for USA tech companies in China is the worst he’s seen in 20 years, and the Obama administration has done little to improve the situation.
Both countries also are working on a bilateral investment agreement, but they’ve yet to agree on the number of sectors that will be off limits to each other’s investors, known as a “negatives list”.
Cyber security, in particular, is likely to be high on the list as no one wants this issue to further damage ties, Prof Li said. After their talk, the Department of the Treasury issued a press release saying Lew hopes China can contain the renminbi’s competitive depreciation, push for the progress of marketization in the foreign exchange market, especially in allowing market forces to decide the appreciation or depreciation of the renminbi and upgrade the transparency of the foreign exchange trading policy.
At the same time, several well-wishers waved Chinese and USA flags and large red signs that read “Hello President Xi” in Chinese characters.
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said he was also considering legislation that would detail possible sanctions against China. The two nations’ warships and aircraft have already had some close encounters in the region.
A related issue is China’s continuing refusal to take back some 40,000 illegal immigrants on the grounds that there is no proof that they are Chinese nationals.
Our No.1 trading partner is China and we do more trade with China than any other state in the United States. “This would be a big-picture goal”, said Singapore-based analyst Li Mingjiang.
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He and President Obama will have much to discuss, including economics, trade, human rights and China’s territorial ambitions.
