When Hu played sumo with Obama

The recent Hu-Obama Presidential Summit in Washington was akin to two highly ranked sumo wrestlers circling each other while assessing how to edge the adversary out of the ring. Finally, decisions on important global and strategic issues were deferred till after 2012 when new leaderships assume charge in China and the US. Hu Jintao and Obama, however, both succeeded in achieving their immediate objectives.

Chinese president Hu Jintao’s 4-day state visit to the US occurred in the backdrop of heightened year-long tension between China and the US as well as China and other countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Tensions were exacerbated by China’s several unresolved maritime territorial disputes. It also coincided with the noticeably increased assertiveness in China’s foreign policy. High on Beijing’s agenda for the Summit, therefore, was securing acknowledgement of China’s important role in the Asia-Pacific region. In his speech, at a luncheon hosted by US Friendship Groups in Washington and attended by 500 CEOs, Chinese president Hu Jintao described the Asia-Pacific region as where US and China have ‘the most overlapping interests’. Sino-US cooperation, he stressed, is ‘crucial’ to the region and Sino-US relations. The 4000-word joint communiqué; issued after the visit devoted three entire clauses to the importance of Sino-US cooperation in the region. The statement that ‘China welcomes the US as an Asia-Pacific nation’ implied China’s acquiescence to continuing US presence in the region and its waters.

Raising other international issues, Hu Jintao for the first time publicly described Taiwan and Tibet as ‘core issues’ for China, but significantly omitted similarly categorising the South China Sea. Taiwan, described by China as a ‘core issue’, was mentioned in the joint communiqué;. North Korea, an important issue for the US and an ally of China, was mentioned at length in the joint communiqué; with China, for the first time, expressing concern regarding North Korea’s ‘claimed uranium enrichment programme’.

Pertinently South Asia, despite its importance to the US and China, was not mentioned in the joint communiqué; in deference to Indian sensitivity. On this occasion the joint communiqué; mentioned only that US and China had ‘agreed to enhance communication and coordination to address pressing regional and global challenges’. That these ‘pressing regional … challenges’ referred to South Asia became clear with the specific mention of ‘South Asia’ by Hu Jintao in a speech in Washington and to ‘hot-button regional issues’ at other forums. At the joint press conference earlier, Hu Jintao had stressed that ‘Beijing and Washington shared expanding common interests and shoulder increasing common responsibilities in addressing global challenges’.

Economic issues were at the heart of the visit. In a move calculated to display China’s wealth and attractiveness as a market for foreign investors, agreements finalised over the past three years and covering a variety of products were bunched and signed on this occasion. Valued at US$ 45 billion these, as publicised, created 2,35,000 jobs for Americans. The joint communiqué, which asserted the importance of the Strategic and Economic Dialogue, reflected US concerns by noting China’s agreement to promote RMB exchange rate reform and enhance exchange rate flexibility as also strengthen IPR protection efforts. Obama separately asserted that the RMB remains undervalued and further adjustment in the exchange rate is required. Hu Jintao urged the US to allow hi-tech exports to China. The importance of defence contacts was also acknowledged including insulating them against the vagaries of politics.

Some discordant notes occurred during the visit, otherwise meticulously crafted by the US administration. Three top Congressional leaders stayed away from the state dinner and Tibetan, Uyghur and Falungong protesters staged noisy demonstrations throu-ghout the visit. The overall mood of the Chinese, who felt subjected to US pressure over the past year, was manifested when US president Obama’s favourite pianist, Lang Lang, played ‘The Motherland’ at the White House state dinner. Hu Jintao, who normally betrays no emotion, warmly hugged the pianist. ‘My Motherland’ is the theme of a Chinese movie set during the Korean War and featuring the defeat of the US! Chinese ‘netizens’ promptly flooded cyber space with jubilant messages lauding Lang Lang for his ‘insult’ to the Americans, which unintentionally created an opportunity for a Chinese Communist Party propaganda victory.

Described by China’s official media as a ‘historical masterstroke’, the visit boosted Hu Jintao’s domestic image as a statesman and leader who had affixed China’s imprimatur on the world stage. Obama used the opportunity to dispel the chill that had settled over Sino-US relations throughout the past year while reasserting US’ commitment to foreign policy values of promoting human rights and democracy. Mutual distrust was, however, not dissipated and the next couple of years will be marked by caution, measured cooperation and competition.

The author is a former additional secretary in the cabinet secretariat, Government of India.