A few days ago U.S. President Barack Obama commented that China has been an international 'free rider' for 30 years. The comment has drawn a lot of criticism from Chinese media. On this occasion, even American media considered it was inappropriate for the U.S. President to make such comments.

US keeps making "statements" about China

U.S. publication The Diplomat published an article under the headline "China Is No International Security Free Rider" which argued that China has taken on substantial international responsibilities in recent years, and it was "unfair and misleading" of Obama to make the "free rider" comment. It is unreasonable for the U.S. to expect China to take on greater responsibilities while refusing to give China the leadership and status that ought to come with that responsibility.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry had indicated several times in public that on the issue of its relationship with China, the U.S. is not looking for conflict or confrontation, but trying to "avoid the trap of strategic rivalry" and hoping that China can be a "global partner". At the sixth round of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue in July this year, Kerry said that there was competition between China and the U.S., but no conflict.

The two faces of the United States

Not content with making "statements" about China, the U.S. also continues to interfere with affairs in the Asia-Pacific region.

Immediately after the U.S. signed a 25-year Military Cooperation Pact with Australia, the Army General of United States Martin Dempsey went to Vietnam and helpped to cancel the provisions of banning lethal weapon sales in Vietnam. The U.S. Government has also made three proposals calling for a freeze on all so-called "provocative acts" in the South China Sea, a move that is basically intended to disrupt China's legitimate and normal drilling operations in these waters.

Some analysts suggest that U.S. struggles to avoid taking contradictory positions when it comes to the relationship with China. Taking Obama's "free rider" comment as an example, he was actually implying that the U.S. needs help from others in maintaining international security. Others take the view that Obama's unfriendly comments about China are no more than "political showboating" for the benefit of hardliners in his Party.

It will be a disaster if the U.S. and China become rivals

Showboating aside, is the U.S. seriously thinking about confronting China? Probably not.

It is clear to the whole world that it will be a disaster if the U.S. and China become rivals, while cooperation between the two can contribute to both countries' development. In 2013, bilateral trade between U.S. and China was worth 520 billion dollars, and investment on both sides was more than 100 billion dollars, which was a new historical high. China is now the second biggest trade partner, the third largest export market, and biggest source of imports to the United States.

Even though the U.S. will not confront China openly in public at the moment, Uncle Sam will not happily embrace a revitalizing China either. Although the U.S. Government denies it, Obama's current policies on Chinaare aimed at constraining China's development. It is time for Uncle Sam to realize that the U.S. Government should put an end to these tiresome "political shows" and underhand actions, and start to cooperate sincerely with China and build a new relationship.

The article is edited and translated from 《美国真心与中国玩对抗？》，source: People's Daily, author: Zhang Hong