How Bad Is China?

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The Chinese very much do, but on their own terms. They are eager to join the World Trade Organization, which is an admission ticket to the global economic community. U.S. businessmen keen to expand their sales want China in too. But the Clinton Administration is holding out for "commercially meaningful terms" necessitating wholesale change in the Chinese economy before saying yes. As a result, the complicated negotiations required before China can join have been slow and painstaking and are nowhere near conclusion. Beijing tends to respond only if pressed hard, says Barshefsky, though "not always and not as much as we want." Washington intends to hold up China's membership until Beijing meets its terms. "We're not asking anything from China they can't reasonably do," says Barshefsky. "It might be a stretch, yes, but will we settle for less? No."

Considering all the heavy baggage Clinton is toting to Beijing, it's a good thing summitry involves more symbolism than substance. The Chinese are mainly intent on replacing those ugly negatives of Tiananmen with positive pictures, and so for nine days the American President will star in a series of carefully scripted, made-for-TV encounters with the Chinese people. Out of this voyage, China's spin doctors hope, will emerge a more humane and dynamic image, befitting their nation's role as a 21st century superpower.

Clinton will have to work hard on his own symbolism if he doesn't want to look sandbagged. Much has been made about how he will handle the politically touchy arrival ceremony in Tiananmen Square, but he will need to appear just as surefooted in his talks with China's leaders inside the Great Hall of the People. Little serious business is planned, but the political noise from Washington will sharply limit his ability to show flexibility on many items on the agenda. And it will put pressure on him to say something bold and daring on the hot-button cause of human rights. Clinton may have to choose between doing things that will advance long-term U.S. interests and those that will help him (or avoid hurting him) in domestic politics. He's slick enough so that he may be able to please the home folks without angering the Chinese, but it won't be easy, not even for Bill.

China is neither our enemy nor our ally. There are plenty of things to hate about its behavior, but there is good reason to push it to do better. Its government is not relentlessly inimical to us. Beijing has been constructive in managing the India-Pakistan nuclear arms race and has contributed to global economic stability during Asia's financial crisis. The issue before the U.S. is not whether to engage the Asian giant; it's how. China is a tough interlocutor, and Clinton has got to be--and be seen to be--just as tough. It is not naive but self-interested for the U.S. to use all its clout to make tomorrow's China less of a worry than today's.

--With reporting by Jay Branegan/Washington, Sandra Burton/Hong Kong and Jaime A. FlorCruz/Beijing

With reporting by Jay Branegan/Washington, Sandra Burton/Hong Kong and Jaime A. FlorCruz/Beijing

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