There were two eye catchers considering the international situation of 2004. One was the EU's acceptance of 10 countries into its membership. It accomplished the fifth expansion in the EU's history. In the same year 25 EU members signed the European Constitution. The other was the US' proposition of a strategic expansion plan centered on adjusting military deployment. Apart from strengthening military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan it speeded up the adjustment of military structure and global deployment.

The expansions of the EU and the US, however, are different in their manners and forms. The EU is carrying out a "soft" expansion, that is, an expansion based on economic ties and political common understanding that takes the form of voluntary membership. The US, on the other hand, pursues a "hard" expansion, which is based on military strengthen. It carries out military attack on, occupation or strategic containment of its potential rivals in the world and promotes its political mode and values by military means and so on.

The development and expansion of the EU is a long peaceful process: its system has formed gradually from the European Coal and Steel Community (1952), European Common Community (1967) to the European Union (1993). The mechanism has deepened steadily from the incorporation of economy and internal affairs to joint diplomacy and security policy. Its size has expanded from 6 countries to 25 countries. The European Union has become a supranational political entity during the process with its headquarters employing tens of thousands people. Its laws have corresponding effect in its member countries. In history Europe has experienced tragic and fierce wars. Part of the setting against which these wars have been waged is the competition among nations for dominance in Europe and the desire for the unification of Europe. After WWII the European countries, with a painful experience at heart, chose to integrate Europe by a peaceful, gradual and voluntary means. Although it has had many troubles in the process it managed its way to today by accommodating to the requirements of global integration. It has furnished mankind with a new mode of development for international relations.

By way of contrast the US-styled expansion seems to be more of traditional power politics. After the cold war power balance of the world has tilted, which has been viewed by some Americans as a once-in-a-blue-moon opportunity for strategic expansion. Theories such as "new imperialism" began to appear. Later development indicates that these ideas have indeed had a significant impact on the American politics. The US successively launched the main wars after the cold war. An imperial tendency based on strengthen is growing apparent.

In recent years the difference between the US and the EU on the war in Iraq is already known to all. This kind of difference is of the nature of political concept. The European countries have formed their international relations concept during regional integration, which is as profoundly different from the new imperialism concept advocated by the US new conservatism as ice is from fire. European countries like France and Germany have given sharp criticisms to the US practices such as unilateralism, bellicose inclination and disregarding international norms. In the meanwhile the US' misgivings over Europe are also increasing. In 2004 there published two books in the US. One is The United States of Europe: The New Superpower and the End of American Supremacy. The other is The European Dream: How Europe's Vision of the Future Is Quietly Eclipsing the American Dream. In defiance of the tradition of ignoring Europe in the US academic circles they believe that Europe has more potentials and appeal than the US in terms of economy, culture and life style, and is expanding its "soft power".

In 2004 the US' occupation of Iraq has been unable to control the situation there. Chaos abides, which again proves that military might is often futile and inefficient as a means to solve nationalist, cultural and social problems. By comparison the EU has reached an agreement with Turkey to begin negotiating on its membership. The interaction between the EU and Turkey is one between western civilization and Islamic civilization. It is of great social and cultural significance worldwide. The undertaking may be difficult. But at least it wouldn't make things worse like the US in Iraq. From this point of view the European-styled enlargement and US-styled expansion are of the nature of competition between different modes.

This is a translation by People's Daily Online of an article carried on the third page of People's Daily on Jan. 4