Complicated relations as China celebrates its 60th anniversary

Yet China is still a relatively closed society, a political dictatorship with harsh penalties always looming as the price of going too far from established Communist orthodoxy. The human rights record of the Beijing regime remains what a diplomat would term inadequate. Our national self-interest argues for continuing rapidly expanding cooperation with China in trade and investment; our nation's constitutional principles remind us actively to oppose human rights abuses.

What should responsible United States government leaders do? First, we should steadily press human rights concerns. Second, we should reinforce the steadily expanding economic role of Taiwan. In both dimensions, U.S. efforts should be indirect; Cold War history argues current cooperation can very rapidly unravel.

Taiwan has become essentially a banker to the enormous industrial revolution taking place on the mainland. Commercially successful, generally well-educated overseas Chinese in turn are a vital source of investment capital.

An indirect approach, avoiding frontal assaults whenever possible, was the hallmark of Sun Tzu, philosopher of strategy and war in ancient China. Current leaders should study his excellent example.

Arthur I. Cyr is Clausen Distinguished Professor at Carthage College and author of 'After the Cold War' (Macmillan/Palgrave and NYU Press). He can be reached at acyr@carthage.edu.

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