Zhu points out at the beginning of his article that some in China predicted a relatively quick recovery of Sino_American
relationship after an initial setback in the early days of the new Bush
administration.But,as now we have seen,the prediction was quite erroneous.Firstly,the position set for China by the Bush administration has apparently changed as compared with that by the Clinton administration.George W.Bush adopted a“vague tactics”,regarding China neither as a partner nor as an enemy.Secondly,the Bush administration took a spectical attitude towards Clinton's policy of“comprehensive engagement”,the attitude was even more firm after the“collision accident”.Thirdly,in the international security area,the new administration is seemingly heading for a direction of belittling China which is being“fringed”gradually.Fourthly,the new administration has been wantonly behaving over a series of issues including Taiwan with the ever largest package of arms sale to the island in particular.Viewing from the lessons in the past,the author says,the greatest difference between China and America has already changed from the human rights issue to Taiwan issue.The Bush administration has a strong tendency of regarding China as the“greatest threat”to the security interests of the United States.White House's diplomatic corps is full of unfriendly even anti China“hawks”.Moreover,the Bush administration's diplomatic thought puts stress on the“strength”,striving to go back to the Reagan time and to protrude America's national interest in the central position of its foreign policy.Zhu maintains,however,that the two
countries will be able to avoid conflicts and greater crises.The reasons for that are: a further development in the economic relations between the two countries was seen by everyone,both sides have reached an agreement on solving the “collision” matter,and Colin Powell will visit Beijing in July to make preparation for George W.Bush's October visit to China.