This is not apologetics for China.... There is a fundamental dishonesty in the US' (and Australia's) recent turn in sentiment re: Chinese trade relations. Ther

This is not apologetics for China.... There is a fundamental dishonesty in the US' (and Australia's) recent turn in sentiment re: Chinese trade relations. There was a deal, partly unstated and largely codified in trade agreements between the two parties. Mainstream notions about economics and trade shifted, and they're no longer happy with the deal. You can pursue new policies, new trade agreements, change your mind or whatnot... but it wasn't China that decided on American priorities. The US wanted to invest in China. It wanted US companies to be governed (largely) by US/washington consensus laws. It wanted US/Western patent law to apply in China, which mean is an even bigger deal now. Can you imagine the US or Australia adapting their legal systems to accommodate trade with China? China wanted trade surpluses, and employment promotion policies. Western economics of that era considered this a freebie. They actually valued Chinese imports more highly than US exports. Deng Xiaoping also wanted to moderate cultural-political influences, and keep about democratic urges. US political scientists thought this was futile, economic liberalisation would end totalitarianism on its own. Older economists/politicians still maintain the economic ideas, but have moved to denying they ever believed in the political ones. Geopolitically, both compromised on Taiwan. China got to keep its "One China" policy. The US maintains its "No Invasions" policy. Both got what they bargained for. The US chose not to bargain for pro labour trade conditions. They didn't want them. Now they do. So bargain again. Random aggression isn't going to get you what you want, if you can't define what you want. Belligerence is just politically easier than addressing the topic directly, admitting that ideas have changed, etc. ^Piracy in China does not invalidate this fact. Incidentally, I spoke to Kevin Rudd at length once (I was an intern), before he was PM. He seemed very pro chinese att.