1. China threat discourse in the United States By Julie Lagacé & Boyan Ivanov

2. Premise  Consumption and manufacturing are the drivers that create wealth  Rise in monetary resources has translated into means for carrying out different policies.  Due to china’s sensitive political situation, The US has developed a “China threat Discourse”

3. Economic Threats PPP of $7.262 trillion  60% of US PPP of $7.262 trillion  60% of US Building a superpower status: Three Gorges Dam, Shanghai Finance center, Olympic Games 2008 and the space program. Building a superpower status: Three Gorges Dam, Shanghai Finance center, Olympic Games 2008 and the space program.

4. Trade imbalance and revaluation Policymakers support the major treasury reserves of China to boost US consumption through low interest rates. Policymakers support the major treasury reserves of China to boost US consumption through low interest rates. Causal relationship: Relative exchange rates with neighbors Causal relationship: Relative exchange rates with neighbors China actually helped smooth the 1997 crisis with its peg China actually helped smooth the 1997 crisis with its peg

5. Energy issues China’s natural appetite for energy leads it to secure reserves of many scarce energy sources China’s natural appetite for energy leads it to secure reserves of many scarce energy sources Oil and gas are strategic assets highly valued by policymakers. Oil and gas are strategic assets highly valued by policymakers. CNOOC had to withdraw its bid for UNOCAL. CNOOC had to withdraw its bid for UNOCAL. * Real reason: Lobbyism and fear * Real reason: Lobbyism and fear

6. Gas in the East China Sea Sino-Japanese conflict Both countries have territorial claims Both countries have territorial claims Both are very dependant on energy imports Both are very dependant on energy imports Both China and Japan are ready to go till the end Both China and Japan are ready to go till the end Joint Statement of U.S.-Japan Security makes it a hot issue Joint Statement of U.S.-Japan Security makes it a hot issue

7. Political Threats Taiwan is the main political issue Taiwan is the main political issue Political recognition of Beijing in 1979 Political recognition of Beijing in 1979 Still, strong support for Taiwan indicates American need to counterweight PRC in case of conflict Still, strong support for Taiwan indicates American need to counterweight PRC in case of conflict Joint agreement declaring Taiwan to be a mutual security concern under U.S.-Japan Security Alliance. Joint agreement declaring Taiwan to be a mutual security concern under U.S.-Japan Security Alliance.

8. Military issue Aggregate military spending, ratio of GDP and per capita military spending  lower than other advanced countries. Aggregate military spending, ratio of GDP and per capita military spending  lower than other advanced countries. Estimates place China's military spending from 2 to 3 times the official budget Estimates place China's military spending from 2 to 3 times the official budget

9. Modernization of the army is due to: Modernization of the army is due to: 1. Increase in the salaries of the military personnel 2. Military reform (hire civilians) 3. Moderate increases in weaponry

10. Sales of weapons and cooperation Russia’s biggest client since 1992 Russia’s biggest client since 1992 Very opposed to US invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq Very opposed to US invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq Peace mission 2005: full scale military cooperation with many ex-soviet states and India Peace mission 2005: full scale military cooperation with many ex-soviet states and India Tendency towards a multipolar world Tendency towards a multipolar world

11. PRC is consolidating very important political capital through its arms sales PRC is consolidating very important political capital through its arms sales Accept pariah states as clients and conduct deals in secretive ways Accept pariah states as clients and conduct deals in secretive ways Transfers and cooperation with Iran, Pakistan and North Korea Transfers and cooperation with Iran, Pakistan and North Korea Sales of ballistic missiles to Syria Sales of ballistic missiles to Syria Rumsfeld and the establishment’s blind policies Rumsfeld and the establishment’s blind policies

12. US Propaganda

13. Arguments against China Corruption Corruption Human Rights record Human Rights record

14. Corruption Increased with the Economic Reforms of the late 1970’s: End of China’s isolation to the world Increased with the Economic Reforms of the late 1970’s: End of China’s isolation to the world smuggling, speculation, fraud, embezzlement, nepotism and bribery smuggling, speculation, fraud, embezzlement, nepotism and bribery

15. Something had to be done… Corruption is endangering CCP’s survival Corruption is endangering CCP’s survival 1986: Campaign against corruption: 6 different measures are implemented 1986: Campaign against corruption: 6 different measures are implemented Perpetrators punishments are very severe Perpetrators punishments are very severe

16. Other measures taken in late 1980’s Younger administration of the CCP Younger administration of the CCP Removal of the dual-pricing system Removal of the dual-pricing system Implementation of the Ministry of Supervision Implementation of the Ministry of Supervision various measures in order to curb corruption of retired cadres and corruption in the army, to halt unauthorized public spending and unnecessary conferences and banquets. various measures in order to curb corruption of retired cadres and corruption in the army, to halt unauthorized public spending and unnecessary conferences and banquets. economic crime reporting centre and hotlines economic crime reporting centre and hotlines

17. Corruption is still very present Why? China is a huge country: thousands of government officials are hard to control! Why? China is a huge country: thousands of government officials are hard to control!

18. Human Rights Numerous practices in China are regarded as unethical and immoral by the Americans Numerous practices in China are regarded as unethical and immoral by the Americans

19. Main Criticism lack of freedom in the choice of religion lack of freedom in the choice of religion family planning and the right of women family planning and the right of women the treatment of prisoners the treatment of prisoners quasi non existence of freedom of speech and freedom of press quasi non existence of freedom of speech and freedom of press the treatment of workers the treatment of workers

20. Conclusion Is China a threat? Is China a threat?