Posted on 09/13/2001 6:23:01 PM PDT by super175
America's response to the terror attacks is certain to lead to much tougher policies towards North Korea and Chinese arms sales to the Middle East.
In a telephone conversation with President Bush on Wednesday night, President Jiang Zemin offered to join an international war on terrorism.
Mr Jiang told Mr Bush: "China is ready to strengthen dialogue and co-operation with the US and the international community in combatting all manner of terrorist violence," Xinhua reported.
But the report gave no details of what role China could play in a US-led war against terrorism.
Mr Bush also said he would attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum meeting next month as planned.
The meeting of Asia-Pacific leaders is to be held in Shanghai.
In Beijing yesterday, Western diplomats said they expected China would be forced to stop equivocating about sales of missile and nuclear technology to Pakistan, as well as Iran and Iraq and other states accused of sponsoring terrorism.
US intelligence agencies have repeatedly said they have evidence that China has been reneging on bilateral agreements and international treaties designed to stop the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. But the accusations have never triggered mandatory sanctions required by US laws.
"China's quick response to back President Bush's call for a co-ordinated crackdown on terrorism shows they have got the message," one diplomat said.
Earlier this year, Washington accused Chinese firms of helping to rebuild Iraq's air defence system in contravention of United Nations resolutions, a charge China denied. When they the US carried out bombing missions against Iraq, the US air force reportedly had to take care to avoid hitting Chinese workers laying underground cables.
China has routinely argued that if the United States scales down its arms sales to Taiwan, China will help restrict its sales to America's enemies.
Chinese analysts privately concede that Beijing will now have to halt aiding or abetting any of the Middle Eastern countries believed to be sponsoring terrorist acts.
This list includes Sudan, Libya, Iran, Iraq, Syria and Pakistan.
But some American specialists, including Qiao Liang, at the Chinese air force headquarters, used the excuse that Tuesday's attacks against the US were an understandable response to American hegemony.
"Many innocent people became victims of American policy after the Cold War," he alleged, arguing that US foreign policies were to blame for what happened.
China undoubtedly felt isolated after it repeatedly backed the wrong side in the various conflicts in Kosovo, supporting Slobodan Milosovic to the last.
This time, however, China clearly wants to find some common ground with the international community.
As a net oil importer, China will also have to ensure its supplies of oil are not interrupted by wars or terrorist acts.
But tension might still deepen between the two nations over America's plans to deploy a missile defence system, a move China is fighting hard to prevent as a shield would shelter Taiwan from mainland missiles.
But a militant mood in the US could lead Mr Bush to brush aside any missile defence shield objections that Mr Jiang might raise at next month's summit.
"Many innocent people became victims of American policy after the Cold War," he alleged, arguing that US foreign policies were to blame for what happened.
And which foreign policies are those? America shows up, aka has a presence= "American policy."
This is not a response to any specific American policy. This is about America being America. Some people do not like that merely because our way of doing things is not the same way as some propped up regime who feels they should be able to do whatever they want to do.
Our presence threatens the power bases of those regimes, whoever they are.
America did not do anything bad, but rather it is like the girlfriend syndrome: If a girlfriend gets giddy when she sees some other guy, they boyfriend gets jealous and wants to fight.
If America stays only within its own borders then America is attacked. If America goes outside of its borders, then America is attacked. There is no way around it.
But a militant mood in the US could lead Mr Bush to brush aside any missile defence shield objections that Mr Jiang might raise at next month's summit.
The truth be told...
People are awakening. China's aid to the countries mentioned, especially Pakisaan and their nukes are no longer hypothetical problems.
China has a lot to answer for.
Their rweaction in the coming weeks and months is of great importance.
They have vowed to help in the fight, but I have seen some very disingenuous comments from them.
Things like "they had it coming" etc.
Whats more is the Chinese in one XinHua article were treating this like, "you stupid Americans. You think you are bad asses. Now when something goes wrong you come crying to us to save you." That was the tone of the whole thing. They were acting like America is full of whiners and whimps.
If they help us they are going to want something big in return. It is a very false friendship.
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