China dilemma: Interview with Prof Zhiqun Zhu

KZ: Today, China is the world's second largest economy and it's possible that it may surpass the United States very soon, as it has done in some areas such as agricultural productions, Forex reserves or exports. What factors have contributed to these outstanding and remarkable achievements? How has China reached to this point?

ZZ: China's economy started to take off in the late 1970s when Deng Xiaoping introduced economic and political reforms. Deng is considered the architect of China's reform and opening-up. Quite a few factors contributed to China's impressive development, such as political stability at home, a mostly peaceful regional environment, China's ability and willingness to adjust its policies and to learn from others, FDI from major powers, strong work ethic of the Chinese, efficient decision-making by competent Chinese leaders. Very interestingly, these leaders are not elected democratically, but most of them happen to be very competent and committed.

Of course, despite the impressive achievements, China remains largely a developing nation, with tremendous domestic challenges such as a worsening environment, a growing income gap, rampant corruption, and rising social protests.

KZ: The United States and China have long fought over the independence of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and finally settled the dispute with the declaration of the Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations which was signed in January, 1979. What's the current position of the United States over the Taiwan question? What's the stance of the Chinese government? Does Beijing still object to countries which maintain diplomatic or economic relations with Taipei?

ZZ: The U.S. does not have official relations with Taiwan, but it maintains a robust "unofficial" relationship with Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act passed by US Congress in 1979. The U.S. treats Taiwan as a sovereign political entity and continues to sell weapons to Taiwan for defensive purposes. Of course China considers this as an intervention in its internal affairs.

China does not oppose other countries maintaining economic and cultural relations with Taiwan, but formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan are not tolerated by Beijing. The long-term objective of the Chinese government is to unify with Taiwan, but in the short run, it can live with the status quo. In recent years, cross-Taiwan Strait relations have drastically improved, with the two economies becoming highly interdependent.

KZ: Since the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, the United States and its European allies have usually criticized China's human rights record. What's your take on that? Contrary to its economic and political indicators, China doesn't have good rankings in press freedom and human rights. Do you agree?

ZZ: Yes, China still has lots of human rights problems despite the progress in the past 30 years. The Chinese government does not like foreign countries to criticize China, especially its human rights record, but many people both in and outside of China know that much is desired in human rights conditions in China. Recent events such as Chen Guangcheng show how basic human rights of ordinary citizens are still not well protected in China.

KZ: What's your evaluation of China's current relations with the European Union? Has it been affected by the recent economic recession in the Eurozone? Which countries are the most important partners of China in the EU?

ZZ: Political and economic relations between China and EU have been stable and close. Eurozone countries are looking to China for help to overcome the debt crisis. China has good relations with almost all European countries. Economically Germany and France are major partners.

Of course, European countries, just like the U.S., are critical of China's human rights policies. And China has complained about EU's reluctance to lift arms embargo to China. The embargo was imposed on China following the 1989 Tiananmen Square incident. China has complained about it, but EU countries have not reached a consensus on this, and the U.S. also opposes EU's potential lifting of sanctions against China.

KZ: China is a major importer of oil from Iran. Moreover, it exports a huge amount of goods to Iran and has practically dominated Iran's market. However, it gave green light to four rounds of U.S.-directed sanctions against Iran in the United Nations Security Council. Many Iranians were disappointed at the fact that China joined the U.S., UK and France in imposing economic sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear program as they expected that China should veto the resolutions. Why do you think China has made such a decision to give way to the anti-Iranian sanctions? Overall, what's in your view the stance of China over Iran's nuclear program?