Source:
https://scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3043746/diplomatic-barriers-must-be-removed-ease-us-china-tension Comment
Diplomatic barriers must be removed to ease US-China tension
- A cold war now looms when the two countries should have been celebrating 40 years of official relations – restraint and common sense are needed to avoid making the situation any worse
The year dawned with the trade war heating up, talk of military conflict over the South China Sea and Taiwan, and accusations of political interference. Photo: AFP
This year should have been one of celebration for China and the United States; diplomatic relations were established 40 years ago.
But 2019 dawned with the trade war heating up, talk of military conflict over the South China Sea and Taiwan, and accusations of political interference.
Pressures and rivalry built as the months passed and it was perhaps inevitable that American bans and restrictions on students, academics and researchers would be extended to Chinese embassy and consular staff.
The low-key expulsion of two envoys allegedly for spying, followed by a requirement that diplomats notify the State Department of meetings with local officials and education and research institutions, reveals how fraught ties have become.
Beijing understandably reacted angrily. The circumstances of the expulsions in September, believed to be the first since 1987, are unclear.
Sources told The New York Times earlier this month that the pair, one believed to be an intelligence officer, were accompanied by their wives and had driven without permission onto a sensitive military base near Norfolk in Virginia.
Washington has not officially responded, but the foreign ministry’s contention that the allegations are not in line with facts is tacit acknowledgement of the incident.
The following month, the US imposed the new rules on Chinese diplomats, saying it was a “reciprocal” response to similar measures against American envoys in China.
Beijing denied it restricted the movements of US diplomatic staff and urged Washington to “correct its mistakes, revoke the relevant decision, and provide support and convenience”. It made a tit-for-tat gesture on December 5, though, demanding US envoys tell the foreign ministry of meetings five days in advance.
Such limits are reminiscent of the cold war between Washington and Moscow, which split the world and caused massive weapons build-ups that threatened peace and stability.
US President Donald Trump’s administration is treating Beijing as if another cold war looms. It accuses China of wide-scale spying and has imposed bans on Chinese technology and is trying to force allies to follow suit.
The nations are also at odds over intellectual property and human rights, with Congress recently passing acts on Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet that would impose sanctions should violations be determined to have occurred.
The only bright spot is that an interim deal has been struck in the trade war, although it is only a small step in ending the 19-month dispute and has yet to be signed.
Restraint and common sense are needed. Diplomats are essential for governments and people to know and better understand one another and should have free movement. In the interests of easing tensions, barriers have to be removed.