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US candidates discuss China... [ 2007-08-09 14:11 ] Download Is China an ally or an adversary of the United States? The question, raised at seminars and US congressional gatherings all the time, dominated the televised public debate among Democratic presidential candidates in Chicago on Tuesday. At a time when context is more important than the issue, almost all the speakers made tough-sounding speeches on China. Those who followed the public debates between George W. Bush and Bill Clinton eight years ago might have been shocked by the present US president's verbal attack against his predecessor for his "too soft" policy toward China. Today, Bush himself draws flak despite being quite successful in dealing with China. That is what politics is all about in the US, or more specifically during the presidential campaign. In Chicago, China came under fire from Democratic candidates who debated before an audience consisting largely of organized labor. Asked whether China is an ally or adversary, seven Democratic hopefuls for the White House described it differently, as a leading competitor, a leading US creditor, a human rights violator, an exporter of dangerous products and a potential military adversary in the coming decades. "I really doubt they (Democratic presidential candidates) were talking their minds in public. They just wanted to politicize issues related to China so that they can win more votes," said Shi Yinhong, professor of International Relations and director of the Center for American Studies in Renmin University of China in Beijing. | 
