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Over the past two years, more often than not, China has opposedU.S. interests or has remained neutral or aloof. A constructive andcooperative relationship with China can emerge only if Americanpolicymakers understand that the promotion of democratic ideals anda stable American presence in Asia are objectives that China'sleaders seek to obstruct, and then engage China on that basisalone.
On March 4, China's National People's Congress announced it would increase the country's military budget 17.8 percent in 2007 to a total of $45 billion. Though this was the biggest single annual increase in China's military spending, the Chinese government reassured the world this spending hike was normal and need not worry anyone.
Beijing doesn't seem that worried about North Korea's bomb. As far as the Chinese media are concerned, it's all American propaganda.
It's fashionable in some quarters to suggest that the Bush administration is exasperated with Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's supposed attempts to "provoke" China.metamorphosis, and now has a new steeliness to it.
The list of what we don't know about Hu Jintao and his prospects asChina's new leader is much longer than the list of what we do. Onereason for this is a simple lack of data.