Talking Points, February 17 - March 3, 2010

Talking Points
February 17 - March 3, 2010

Nearly nine in ten Americans have an unfavorable impression of Iran, according to an early February poll by the Gallup Organization. Only fellow “axis of evil” holdover North Korea received similar scorn. These results came before the US Treasury Department froze assets of companies linked to Iran’s military, before Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned that Iran was in danger of becoming a military dictatorship, and before the United Nation’s nuclear watchdog agency reported that Iran’s refusal to cooperate with it suggests it is busy developing a nuclear weapon. The US, Britain, France, and Germany have been putting pressure on Russia and China to support stronger sanctions against Iran. Responding to the report, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov yesterday said, "We are very alarmed and we cannot accept this.”

China is now alone among the powers in resisting the application of new sanctions on Iran. Many Americans find this difficult to understand.
 

American Attitudes Toward Select Countries, 2010

1985 Chinese stamp celebrating the 15th century voyages of Zheng He, including stops in Persia.

In a highly regarded 2006 book, Georgia Tech scholar John Garver argued that Chinese and Iranians see themselves as heirs to great civilizations that suffered abuse and dismemberment at the hands of the West and those powers continue to conspire to prevent them from returning to greatness. Shared outrage at past aggressions and contemporary slights shapes, Garver suggested, how Chinese and Iranian leaders view the actions of other nations and international bodies and it certainly colors how they talk about Chinese-Iranian ties. In the end, though, national interests drive actual policies.

China’s pressing need for oil to help power its economy is one obvious interest. Chinese authorities recently reported that just over half the oil China consumed last year was imported. Iran was the third largest supplier of that oil. Chinese demand for oil is rising and Chinese leaders are understandably eager to avoid jeopardizing relations with a key supplier. Iran also has the third largest proven oil reserves in the world. China’s state-owned oil companies have signed deals to help exploit these reserves.

Oil reserves (billions of barrels): Saudi Arabia 262, Iran 136, Russia 60, US 21, China 16.

Chinese leaders have also been sympathetic to Iranian government complaints that foreign powers meddle in its domestic affairs. Having seen the importance of cell phones and the internet in helping opposition forces organize massive protests in Tehran after the disputed June national election, Chinese authorities were quick to sever internet links and international phone links when violence erupted in Xinjiang in July. Chinese and Iranian governments routinely blame unrest on the machinations of foreign entities.

China has powerful economic and political reasons to side with Iran. But it has repeatedly determined that its relations with other powers are more important. Though Chinese leaders do not appear to feel threatened by a nuclear armed Iran, they do not feel comfortable standing alone on the issue. China has previously signed off on sanctions on Iran. Many analysts expect China’s leaders to do so again this time – but only after securing recognition of the crucial position China now occupies. Chinese leaders can’t be sure what the short or long-term cost of opposition to the other powers might be, but, as in its facilitator role in the North Korea talks, they know indispensability yields benefits. Those benefits will include the appreciation of the leaders of its top Western export markets and Saudi Arabia, its top oil supplier.

Bates Gill took up the Iran question and many others during his talk at USC on Thursday. Director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Gill is a top China-watcher. He argues that just as Western hopes that China will play an increasing role in addressing international problems are rising, Chinese capacity to meet them is not. This “expectations gap” is already large and is likely to widen. Gill blames structural factors which limit the ability of China’s leaders to play the positive international role others wish them to play. These include the norm of “hanging back” and avoiding being out in front on controversial issues, a need to focus on domestic development priorities, tensions over the upcoming leadership transition, and a slow, deliberative decision-making process. Gill also suggested measures the US and other nations could take to successfully engage China in addressing problems. Video of Gill’s talk will be available at the US-China Institute website on Tuesday. 

Huang Kwei-bo, chief of research and planning for Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be at USC on Wednesday to discuss his government’s ties with China and the US. Taiwan-China relations have improved in the last year and a half, though not nearly as much as some  expected. The Obama administration’s announcement of a $6 billion arms sale to Taiwan caused Chinese officials to suspend US-China military exchanges. (Though the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier group were permitted to visit Hong Kong this past week.) We hope you’ll join us for Wednesday’s discussion of these and other issues.

Finally, a reminder for USC scholars and students: The deadline to apply for USCI research support is Friday, March 5. The deadline for teachers to apply for our summer study tour is Monday, March 1. Details and applications are available at the USCI website.

Thank you for reading Talking Points and for sharing it with others. We welcome your comments. Please send them to us at uschina@usc.edu.

Best wishes,
The USC US-China Institute
china.usc.edu

Write to us at uschina@usc.edu
Subscribe to Talking Points at china.usc.edu/subscribe.aspx
Support the USC US-China Institute with your tax deductible gift at giveto.usc.edu/

Events

USC 

02/18/2010: Backlash for Beijing: A Bumpy Road Ahead for China`s Relations with the West
University of Southern California
Address: Davidson Conference Center, Los Angeles, CA 90089
Cost: Free
Time: 3:00PM - 5:00PM
The U.S.-China Institute presents a talk by Dr. Bates Gill on China`s future relations with the West. 

02/24/2010: Lecture: Kwei-Bo Huang
USC Davidson Conference Center, Club Room
Los Angeles, CA 90089
Cost: Free
Time: 4:00PM - 5:30PM
Dr. Huang will examine Taiwan`s Mainland China policy and U.S- China relations. 

02/27/2010: 4th Annual Traditional Chinese Dance Showcase
University of Southern California
Bovard Auditorium,
Los Angeles, CA 90089
Cost: Free
Time: 7:00PM
USC`s Traditional Chinese Dance presents "Dance to a New Year."

California

02/18/2010: The Post-Crisis Challenge for the US-China Relationship
Harry Kellogg Auditorium, Silicon Valley Bank
3005 Tasman Drive, Santa Clara, California
Cost: Students $50; Asia Society/Co-sponsor Members $75; non-members $100
Time: 8:30AM - 11:30AM
Asia Society hosts a panel discussion on economic conditions in the US and China. 

02/18/2010: Cold War Borders in a Post-Socialist World: Hong Kong / China
UCLA
Hacienda Room UCLA Faculty Center
Cost: Free
Time: 4:00PM - 5:30PM
The UCLA Center for Chinese Studies presents a lecture by James Watson on the fate of international borders that were transformed by the collapse of cold-war socialism and the triumph of global capitalism.

02/18/2010: Elizabeth Economy: The River Runs Black
Fromm Hall, USF Main Campus
Enter off Parker between Golden Gate and Fulton , San Francisco, California
Cost: Free
Time: 5:45PM - 7:30PM
Asia Society presents a talk by Elizabeth Economy on China’s growing environmental crisis and its implications for the country’s future development. 

02/19/2010: Culture of China, Festival of Spring
Pasadena Civic Auditorium
300 East Green Street, Pasadena, CA 91101
Cost: $20.00 - $168.00
The Chinese Culture Development Center of the China Press will host a Chinese Spring Festival performance by the world renown performance group, the Central Policy & Dance Ensemble of People`s Liberation Army of P.R. China. 

02/20/2010: Chinese Kun Opera: The Peony Pavilion
Winifred Smith Hall
University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA
Cost: $35 & $25 for general public, $15 for UCI students, VIP: donations of $100 or more will enjoy premiere seating and invitations to our post-performance party
University of California at Irvine presents a Chinese Kun opera, The Peony Pavilion. 

02/26/2010: 2010 Wilbur K. Woo Greater China Business Conference
UCLA Anderson School of Management, Los Angeles, CA 90095
Cost: Regular registration $125.00; Academic registration $75.00
Time: 8:30AM
UCLA Anderson School of Management presents the annual Wilbur K. Woo Greater China Business Conference that brings together today`s business leaders, professionals, academics and students to discuss current business challenges and trends in Greater China. 
 
02/26/2010: Popular Accountability and Regime Resilience in Reform-Era China
UC Berkeley
IEAS Conference Room, 2223 Fulton Street, 6th Floor, Colloquium
Cost: Free
Time: 4:00PM - 6:00PM
UC Berkeley`s Center for Chinese Studies presents a talk by Martin Dimitrov on the longevity of communist regimes is provided by examining their systems of popular accountability.

North America

02/18/2010: Strait Talk: US-Taiwan Relations and the Crisis with China
Location: TBA
Time: 4:30PM
University of Pennsylvania`s Center for East Asian Studies presents a talk by Nancy Tucker on the nature of US commitments to Taiwan, the intentions of critical actors, the impact of democracy, the role of lobbying, and the accelerating difficulty of balancing Taiwan against China. 

02/18/2010: The Buddhist Wheel of Rebirth in China and Elsewhere
Staff Dining Room, Brower Commons
Rutgers University 145 College Avenue, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901
Time: 4:30PM
As part of the Distinguished Lecture Series in Chinese Culture, the Confucius Institute of Rutgers University features a talk by Dr. Stephen F. Teiser. 

02/19/2010: Christian Chroniclers of Chinese Cruelty: Western Misperceptions of Chinese Criminal Justice
School of Social Work Building, Room 1636
1080 South University , Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
University of Michigan`s Center for Chinese Studies presents a talk by Professor Thomas Buoye on Christian missionaries` depictions of Chinese criminal justice .

03/01/2010: Media Training Seminar: “US-China Relations: What’s the Big Story and How Do I Cover It?”
IUPUI Kelley School of Business, Room BS 4095,
801 W. Michigan St, Indianapolis
Time: 12:00 pm-3:00 pm
Indiana University`s Kelley School of Business presents a media training seminar by journalists from various newspapers and journals. 

Exhibitions  

01/27/2010 - 03/05/2010: Splendid Details: Textiles from East Asia
Wesleyan University
343 Washington Terrace, Middletown, CT 06459
Cost: Free
Time: 12:00PM - 4:00PM
Wesleyan University`s Center for East Asian Studies presents an exhibition in celebration of East Asian textile artistry.

09/22/2009 - 06/30/2010: China`s Great Wall: The Forgotten Story
NYC offices of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, New York, NY
The Forgotten Story is a series of historically-based photographs of the Great Wall of China. It is a collaboration between Jonathan Ball, a California based photographer, and David Spindler, one of the world`s foremost experts on Great Wall history.

03/28/2010 - 07/25/2010: Secrets of the Silk Road
Bowers Museum
Address: 2002 North Main Street, Santa Ana, California 92706
Cost: Adults/$18 Weekdays; $20 Weekends/ Students & Seniors/$16 Weekdays, $18 Weekends; Children (under six) Free
The Bowers Museum presents an historic exhibition of over 150 objects drawn from the rich collections of the Urumqi Museum and the Institute of Archaeology of Xinjiang reveals surprising details about the people who lived along the ancient Silk Road.

11/03/2008 - 11/03/2009: Ancient Arts of China: A 5000 Year Legacy
Bowers Museum
2002 North Main Street, Santa Ana, California 92706
Bowers Museum presents a collection that portrays the evolution of Chinese technology, art and culture. 

11/15/2008 - 11/15/2009: Masters of Adornment: The Miao People of China
Bowers Museum
2002 North Main Street, Santa Ana, California 92706
The Bowers Museum presents a collection of exquisite textiles and silver jewelry that highlights the beauty and wealth of the Miao peoples of southwest China. 

02/12/2009 - 02/12/2010: Art of Adornment: Tribal Beauty
Bowers Museum
2002 N. Main, Santa Ana, CA
Cost: $5
An exhibit featuring body adornments from indigenous peoples around the world.

____________________________________________________________________

Please invite others to subscribe to USCI’s free email newsletter for regular updates on events and programs. We will not share names or email addresses with any other entity. Sign Up.

We provide information about China-related events as a community service. If you would like your event considered for inclusion in the USCI calendar, please click here to submit event details.

If you would like to support USCI by making a donation please visit http://www.usc.edu/giving/.

USC U.S. – China Institute
3535 S. Figueroa St.
FIG 202
Los Angeles, CA 90089-1262
Tel: 213-821-4382
Fax: 213-821-2382
Email: uschina@usc.edu
Website: http://china.usc.edu 

You have received this e-mail because you have subscribed to receive updates from USCI. If you feel this message has reached you in error or you no longer wish to receive our updates, please click, unsubscribe, and enter "Remove" in the subject line.