A 1993 Summit with Clinton and the Evolving Views on China's Rise

88
2
A 1993 Summit with Clinton and the Evolving Views on China's Rise

Miyazawa's Concerns About China

In a 1993 summit with U.S. President Bill Clinton, Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa expressed concerns about China's lack of democratization and its potential transformation into a military power. This revelation comes from newly released diplomatic records.

During the summit, Clinton inquired about Miyazawa's perspective on dealing with China. Miyazawa responded frankly, highlighting his own concerns. He noted that while China's economic growth was significant, it was crucial to maintain a cautious diplomatic distance.

Miyazawa emphasized the importance of maintaining Hong Kong's prosperity as a gateway for introducing market economy principles into China. However, he also expressed apprehension about China's growing military ambitions. He believed that as China's economy developed, it would have more resources to pursue its military aspirations.

Miyazawa acknowledged that China's pursuit of hosting the 2000 Olympics in Beijing suggested a commitment to pacifism in the near future. However, he cautioned that there was no guarantee of continued pacifism beyond that point.

Clinton's response to Miyazawa's concerns was more restrained than his previous criticisms of the Bush administration's China policy. He acknowledged the importance of maintaining economic ties with China while also recognizing the need to address human rights concerns.

The following year, Clinton delinked the issue of human rights from the renewal of China's "most favored nation" trade status. This decision aimed to deepen economic ties with China and continued throughout Clinton's presidency. However, it has faced criticism in recent years for contributing to China's military rise alongside its economic growth.

Miyazawa's own views on China evolved over time. After stepping down as prime minister, he expressed optimism about China's path towards becoming an economic superpower and downplayed its hegemonic tendencies. However, in later years, he grew increasingly wary of China's military expansion, advocating for Japan to exercise a limited right of collective self-defense to strengthen its response capabilities alongside the United States.