Economic and Security Review Commission

China's Role in the World Economic and Security Review Commission

Today we are focusing on China's role in the world. Rather than an exhaustive review, we hope to bring to the forefront a number of common questions and themes that are raised by Chinese government strategy and actions around the world. China is playing a greater and greater role on the world stage. As it does so, the scrutiny of its actions and its intentions is, not surprisingly, also growing. There is much to question. The Chinese government likes to characterize itself as engaging in a "peaceful rise." Yet, its active engagement with and assistance to countries which others in the international community have condemned as human rights abusers or threats to international peace raise serious questions about its intentions. And the world's understanding of China's intentions globally, like most of its governmental affairs, suffers from its lack of transparency. Today's experts will try to break through some of the lack of transparency, testifying on China's economic diplomacy, its energy diplomacy, and its engagement with pariah states. We will consider the nature of the relationships China is establishing with countries around the world and the impact of those relationships on U. S. interests.