Dr. Jin Canrong, of
Beijing Pacific Institute for International Strategy Studies, speaks
at CSI
A leading foreign policy expert from China visited
the College of Staten Island yesterday to discuss issues facing his
country and the changes that enabled its transformation into a major
economic power.
China, among developing nations, benefited the most
from the globalization of the 1990s, said Dr. Jin Canrong, deputy
director of the Beijing Pacific Institute for International Strategy
Studies and professor of international relations in the People's
University, Beijing.
Jin held a roundtable discussion with members of
CSI's Modern China Culture and Policy Group and other staff members
and students. The event was part of CSI's effort to exchange
expertise with China, said Ken Bach, a college spokesman.
In a major paradigm shift, revolution, ideologies
and politics took a back seat to economics, Jin said.
Today's leaders in China, all they care about is how
to release the daily frustrations, he said.
A key aspect of understanding China's foreign policy
is seeing the dominance of the United States in the world, he said.
For example, the improvement of Sino-Russian relations had the goal
of strengthening their ability to bargain with the United States, he
said.
Since about 1999, China has been giving preference
to the U.S. over Japan in economic deals because the America is more
generous in sharing technology and skills, he said.
China also sends 60 labor leaders to Harvard every
year because the U.S. is believed to have the best management skills
in the world, he said, noting that China currently has all the
economic factors but needs skills.
Two of the nation's most important goals are
modernization and reunification with Taiwan.
While absorbing Taiwan is not a priority, allowing
it to become independent could mean other parts of China such as
Tibet and Mongolia could try to also break away, Jin said,
responding to a question from Political Science Professor Dan
Kramer. A second reason is using Taiwan to further its
development.
Asked about China's policy on Iraq by student Semako Agusa, 34, of
Mariners Harbor, Jin said China prefers not to take a stand unless
forced.
China is hidden behind the French and Russians, he
said, noting that the nation often prefers to keep a low profile.
China still tends to prefer bilateral relations, or
person-to-person talks held privately, but is moving toward
multilateral relations, or ones held in the open with many groups.
