The China Teaching Web

In recent days, following the Presidential election, I have continually been asked by my more politically minded university students what I think about President Bush’s eight years in office. Usually, I turn the question around and ask them to tell me what they think about Mr. Bush’s impact on China during his two terms in office.

At first, I was surprised by the number of negative responses that I received. It seemed that few of my students had anything good to say about Mr. Bush - a man who has led the U.S. since most of them were 13-14 years old. When I really listened to what they were saying, however, I realized that there was very little substance. The few students who were able to come up with reasons for their dislike of Mr. Bush seemed to be very badly misinformed about his policy toward China.

In fact, there seems to be widespread confusion in China about the Bush administration’s relationship with Beijing since 2000. For example, many of my students have falsely assumed that Bush has supported Tibetan independence because of his meetings with the Dalai Lama. Nothing could be further from the truth. The United States had already recognized Tibet as a part of China before the People’s Republic of China was established in 1949. The Bush administration has done nothing to change this policy and has only urged Beijing to restrain itself and to deal with the recent conflicts there peacefully.

I have also heard some of my students complaining about President Bush’s policy towards Taiwan. While discussing the issue of Taiwan with students in China is imprudent, I cannot help but wonder to myself about what exactly people are complaining. Certainly the U.S. Taiwan policy is more complex and and at times ambiguous than the Tibet policy.  No matter, since Nixon’s historic visit to Beijing in 1972, the U.S. has adhered to a one-China foreign policy. The fact that Taiwan has no diplomatic recognition in the United States - a policy started in the early 90’s - has remained unchanged during the Bush administration. Washington views Taiwan as an inseparable part of China but strongly opposes the use of force by either side to resolve the ongoing conflict.

When one looks back on the past eight years, it is clear that President Bush has been a good friend to the Chinese. His policy of maintaining and strengthening economic ties with China has demonstrated his optimism for China’s future. In general, Bush has treated China as a “strategic partner” just as he promised he would during his campaign. At the end of 2001, for example, Bush moved to give China permanent normal trade status in a move that he called “the final step in normalizing US-China relations.”

Although the Beijing Olympics just came to an end three months ago, it would seem that many in China have already forgotten that Mr. Bush was the first President in U.S. history to attend Olympic festivities outside of America. President Bush traveled to Beijing amid fierce criticism that was leveled at him by human rights groups worldwide. It appears that the Chinese have also quickly forgotten that their Presidential hopeful - Barack Obama - urged President Bush to skip the 2008 Games. President Bush however, who had already promised Chinese President Hu Jintao that he would attend, made the trip stating that it was his wish to support the American athletes and be a friend to the Chinese people.

President Bush has also been a friend to the millions of Christians and other downtrodden groups of people in China who have been victims of government perpetrated human rights violations. From Washington and also on Chinese soil, President Bush has never missed an opportunity to call for improved human rights in China and has even gone as far to worship in Chinese government churches, demonstrating his solidarity with Christians across China. His trip to Beijing in August was no different. Before he had even landed in China, he had already made strong statements condemning Beijing’s dismal human rights record.

Perhaps then, it is this prodding by President Bush that has left many here with a bad impression of him. After all, the Chinese government is viewed by its people as a ‘kind mother’. Any criticism of the Chinese government is perceived as an insult to the Chinese people.

Someday - after enough time has passed for history to deliver a fair verdict - I believe that President Bush will be remembered as a friend to the People’s Republic of China. His willingness to maintain strong relations with China while at the same being firm with Beijing on the issue of human rights has helped push China further in the right direction as it struggles to emerge from the shadows of oppression and destitution.