Jottings from the Granite Studio

Following up on a piece that I posted over at The Peking Duck, US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC), commissioned by Congress in 2000, concluded its first 2007 meeting this past week. According to a report in today’s Asia Times, the meetings covered a range of topics but focused primarily on three key issues: China’s January 11 ASAT (anti-satellite test), how to convince China to comply with WTO guidelines, and whether or not US policy should continue to rely on the assumption that economic incentives will lead to increasing democratization in China.

The tone of the Asia Times report was not optimistic. It described the ASAT test as an unannounced and frankly provocative gesture, calling the move “strategic escalation.” Meanwhile, at the same time testimony over China’s non-compliance with WTO was being given at the meeting, trade representatives from the United States, Europe, and Canada were busy bringing China before the WTO over unfair duties on auto parts. Finally, in a statement given before the panel, long time China watcher Jim Mann sounded pessimistic over the prospects of China changing course significantly even over the long term. (See “Jim Mann: ‘What if China Doesn’t Change?“)