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A click-through history of modern relations between the United States and China.
News analysis
BEIJING – It isn't only the U.S. presidential candidates who have had to withstand a verbal pummeling during the race -- China has been the subject of some of the most sustained attacks from Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, both of whom seem to be competing for who can be toughest on the world’s second-largest economy.
Romney has called China "a currency manipulator" and pledged to "crack down" on the country. Obama, meanwhile, has described China as an adversary, and said his administration was sending "a very clear message that America is a Pacific power and we are going to have a presence there."
In the final presidential debate, Mitt Romney says the country needs to get tough on China on currency manipulation and counterfeit products.
China was mentioned 32 times during the last presidential debate. This appeared to have prompted China's netizens, who tend to be younger and better educated than average, to take to online feeds in droves to watch Obama and Romney fight it out.
With its own seismic political transition in-the-works, reaction to American fighting talk has ranged from the philosophical to the plainly disinterested, a mood of suspicion replacing the euphoria that infected many young Chinese after Obama's election in 2008.
An October 17 editorial published by state-run news agency Xinhua called Obama and Romney’s China-bashing "a ritual" that "leaves Americans with the impression that China is responsible for their country’s decline."
"There are plenty of other U.S. politicians who have built their political popularity and career by chastising the Chinese government and its policies," another Xinhua editorial said. "U.S. politicians have a notorious record of rounding on China during election seasons and then quickly changing their course of action after taking office."
Full coverage: NBCNews.com's The World is Watching series
Despite the official and semi-official take on the race, many regular Chinese approached by NBC News said they weren't following the U.S. election -- an indication that issues like high inflation, rising property prices and a slowing economy have a more immediate impact on people's lives.
"I have no idea. It has nothing to do with me," 22-year old Liu Ziyu, a recent college graduate, told NBC News when asked who he would like to see win the race.
While the candidates are scrutinized and skewered by the media in the U.S., China's new leader Xi Jinping remains a man of mystery among his citizens. NBC's Ian Williams reports
Luan Ke, 23, an editor and journalist at a Beijing newspaper echoed a popularly held opinion when he said neither candidate would really change the relationship between the world's remaining superpower and an emerging power.
"I don't think there is any essential difference between the two," he said.
Much at stake for US as tensions rise in troubled China Seas
Luan and others pointed to a growing list of issues plaguing the Sino-U.S. relationship. The United States has accused China of undercutting American competitiveness and jobs by circumventing trade laws and undervaluing the yuan to help its exporters.
China has indeed kept its currency cheap by indirectly pegging the yuan to the dollar through the purchase of $1.15 trillion in U.S. bonds, making it the second largest holder of American debt after the Federal Reserve.
Also in this series: Israel, Iran name checks illustrate America's twin obsessions
But while this issue is frequently used to show Beijing's inordinate power over the American economy, most experts acknowledge that the risks go both ways: A unloading of U.S. bonds would likely cause the dollar to plummet in value, but at the same time send the yuan soaring, dramatically raising the price of its products internationally and possibly sparking skyrocketing inflation due to runaway commodity prices.
The Obama administrations' three rounds of quantitative easing -- the act of injecting currency into the money supply – has angered Chinese policy makers because it devalues the dollar and makes its products more expensive internationally.
Also in this series: Should next US president treat Russia as friend or foe?
The two countries have also been involved in a tit-for-tat trade spat. The Obama administration has won international rulings on trade issues ranging from the dumping of Chinese tires to cheap steel on the American market. In return, China has countered with its own protective tariffs on American auto parts and chicken feet.
Meanwhile, the United States' re-engagement with the Asia-Pacific region – dubbed a "pivot" by the White House – comes as China transforms itself into a modern and confident fighting force. Territorial regional disputes have become hot-button issues for China, which Beijing is increasingly unafraid to push back on.
China brings its 1st aircraft carrier into service, joining 9-nation club
Throughout the campaign, Chinese state media has reminded viewers and readers of the chasm that often exists between American candidates' rhetoric and their policies once in office. For example, in 1992, candidate Bill Clinton pummeled President George H.W. Bush for dealing with China's ruling Communist Party, whom Clinton famously dubbed the "butchers of Beijing."
Just eight years later, candidate George W. Bush accused lame duck president Clinton of being soft on China, slamming him for declaring Beijing "strategic partners."
Despite the knowledge that American campaign rhetoric often doesn't match the reality once a president is in office, observers have been keeping a close eye on the U.S. campaign trail and the changing relationship between the two countries.
A congressional investigation says Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies is a national security threat; its equipment may be used for spying on Americans. CNBC's David Faber has the details of the investigation, and CNBC's Jon Fortt takes a look at wh...
"America's refocus and return to the Asia-Pacific region has brought increased challenges to the Sino-U.S. relationship," Zhang Guoqing, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of American Studies, told NBC News. In particular, there is growing anger and frustration at what is seen as obstructionism on the part of the Obama administration, which is blocking high-profile industrial firms like Huawei and Sany from investing in strategic industries like energy and telecommunications.
Also in this series: Despite bloodshed, Mexico is ignored during White House race
Despite American efforts to re-label the pivot as a "rebalancing" of its diplomatic and economic resources as well as its military ones, China’s attention has largely focused on the U.S. shift militarily. So suspicion of the United States’ changing role in the region has run rife on Beijing’s streets.
More China coverage from NBC News' Behind the Wall blog
"(The United States) might suppress China and prevent it from being the boss in Asian-Pacific region," Chen Huaijie, a 32-year old voice-over artist for a Chinese state broadcaster, told NBC News.
Regardless of who wins next week, expect China to approach the president-elect warily but, given the country’s growing prominence on the world’s stage, confidently.
NBC News’ Li Le and Yanzhou Liu contributed to this report.
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As Warren Buffett said on CNBC's Squawkbox a few years ago (paraphrasing): "I'm all for free trade and we have $1.6 trillion of it. But we have $700 billion of UNRECIPROCATED trade and that's a major problem. Sooner or later, other countries are going to get tired of those slips of white paper (debt) that we give them to make up the difference."
Suspicion my azz. They are worried that the USA will cease being stupid in their business dealings with them.
they have been stacking the deck with our politicians help for decades now, and fear the corruption may scale back now.
Bottom line is that there isn't much we can do about it. If US consumers prefer low prices, we'll continue buying from China.
And I suppose that you really believe that Mark? You don't think for one sec that OUR elected officials, democrats AND republicans alike are not WITHOUT our permission, selling us out in order to do the bidding of the people who have bought and paid for them all in the name of making them richer? Cmon now, the politicians are blaming each other and China at election time, lying like hell through their teeth in a struggle to get elected, and YOU are blaming it on US, the American people, no less. Geeze man, at least the Chinese people have enough sense to know what's going on and are not afraid to admit it as common knowledge. WTF is wrong with the people of this nation? Have we just went completely brain dead or what?
And YOU are probably one of the very few who are benefitting from the convenient little arrangement that the majority have been sold out on. For Christ's sake, do you think everyone is dumb as hell? Do you think for one sec that if one pays attention to what's going on here that it is not readily apparent as to what is happening here? Give me an effin break buddy. We are not all as dumb as a herd of sheep here, just most of us.
China is not responsible for America's decline. Americans selling out to China for increased profits are responsible for America's decline.
Correction, America's elected officials are selling out the American people to China in order to make the people who have legally bought and paid for said officials richer. Tell it like it really is.
answer...premptive nuclear strike .kill all those chinamen
"U.S. politicians have a notorious record of rounding on China during election seasons and then quickly changing their course of action after taking office."
What tells the tale any better than that? Proof positive that they lie through their teeth while trying to get elected. They blame China and talk down on them, the challenger accusing the incumbent, then as soon as they take control they are handing them OUR heads on a golden platter, each and every one of the lying bastards, republicans and democrats alike. All in the name of making the wealhty elite richer. GD TRAITORS!!!!!
Luan Ke, 23, an editor and journalist at a Beijing newspaper echoed a popularly held opinion when he said neither candidate would really change the relationship between the world's remaining superpower and an emerging power.
"I don't think there is any essential difference between the two," he said.
You see there people. How in the hell can they see it when it is not even their country or leaders that is doing it, IT IS OURS, OURS THAT IS DOING IT!!!! Yet the blind, mind numbing complacency of us, WE THE PEOPLE of this nation can't see passed the end of our own noses? You had better wake up and open your eyes and minds my fellow Americans BEFORE they have us in shackles and chains. WE ARE ALMOST THERE!
Oh, I'm sure obuma has China shaking in their boots! Don't piss off the landlord, obuma.....specially, when you're needing to borrow another $6,000,000,000,000.00 in February!
Hmmmmm, I guess you need to be reminded that it was Bush/Cheney who started borrowing billions of dollars from China to finance his illegal war in Iraq and the mess in Afghanistan. Obama had to keep borrowing until he can get all of our troops out of both situations. Face the truth and admit it was the Bush/Cheney regime and the GOP that created this mess and they are fighting Obama tooth and nail to make him look bad and he still has the country going in the right direction. Obama is not invested in the two largest oil companies as romney is, Obama does not own two factories that employs thousands of Chinese as Romney does, Obama does not own a factory that makes and sells spyware to China which uses it to spy on their own people and other nations including America but Romney does. Obama does not have huge bank accounts full of American dollars hidden oveseas to avoid paying his fair share in taxes but Romney does. The average struggljng American family can only get a maximum of $1,000.00 child care tax credit per child, hhhmmmmmm Romeny got a $77,000.00 tax write off on only one of his many horses. who is more important the kids who are our future or a future bag of dog food and bottle of glue? The average American believes his kid is while Romney feels his dog food and glue pot are more important. romney is not in this election for you and me he is in it for himself, his family and the rest of the 1%. Obama does not own a company that makes electronic voting machines that are being used across the nation and in 6 of the 9 swing states including Ohio but romney does!!!! Geez this crooked list just keeps getting longer and longer just like romney's Pinnochio nose.
Check out TelltheTruth2012.com
We have to stop media bias. The media is not reporting the news. They are sorting what they want us to know. Scary!
And that ain't nothing but a bunch of GD BS propaganda.
What we need to do is bring our companys back here,and start treating our people the way,they are supposed to be treated. We need to be number1 again,in everything. China right now,along with other countries own us,and that has got to stop!
FINALLY...The last nail in Dumbo coffin..Unemployment rose to 7.9 % in October. So much for his economic plan. This guy is just a freaking nightmare. Time to elect a real person for President..
ROMNEY/RYAN You have no other choice.....
I assume you did not read or listen to the whole report. It was an excellent upbeat in the economy, housing, retail sales and more. This is a feather in Obama's hat for doing a great job despite the GOP's efforts to make him look bad. This report out today will help Obama in the election. the media is already saying what a great report this was for Obama. So before you jump the gun again listen to and read what is being said before you post on here and make yourself look like a horses patoot.
Well, since MSNBC will not allow anyone to comment on their headlines of the Jobs report I will do it here. 171,000 jobs added, but, in order for the jobless rate to climb, WE LOST MORE JOBS THAN WE ADDED. and that is not including the ones that dropped out and are no longer elligible to apply for Unemployment, Stop, breath and think people. See how msnbc twist and turns everything so you think we are doing good.... I am right, you cant argue it. The unemployed went up more than our jobs increased or the rate would not have climbed.
All that crackdown rhetoric is well and good, until China yells "margin call" back at the U.S. and communist actions speak louder than God's words. Just sayin'........Who didn't see this coming in the 1990's? The same people selling mortgage backed securities perhaps?
Why would anyone or any country associate or do business with a so called adversary or enemy in the first place, hello, does this even make sense. When I was a kid, I was taught to stay away from those who deem me harm. To have good, honest, decent friends, not a bunch of rouges. Cut off China, period, nip it in the bud, build assembly plants here where they should be, want jobs, there's a start. Romney is 2 faced, after sleeping in the same bed with China for 20 years, Bain job out-sourcing, he now condemns the country that lined his pockets. Like they say no pain, no gain. As Americans, sure we may see some pain, but the gain would be worth it. If we cut China out of our trade, their country would wither on the vine.
I know all about economics, you dim witt, I'm talking about sleeping with the enemy, at ones own peril. These are adults talking, go outside and play.
As much as I hate to do this, I have to back Obama on this one. Most Chinese innovation is not Chinese innovation after all; China is known for its blatant theft of intellectual property and allowing these companies to operate in the United States would be like giving the fox the keys to the henhouse.
Obama will do nothing to change the way China beats us up with currency manipulation and tainted food coming into this country......Many of his so called czars that could stop this rape by China are on the China's payoff payroll
You would have to be a fool not to believe this, they are taking money on the side to look the other way. We are dealing with the most corrupt administration this nation has ever had and Obama is a puppet dangling on the strings of George Soros who financially put him in the Whitehouse. Four more years of Obama and you can kiss your beloved America good bye.
We here in the once great US of A want one thing and that is cheap goods and cheap labor. Thus we allow anyone who can walk, swim or run to enter this country. We have plenty of cheap uneducated labor already here, thanks to the teachers union not doing their job, teaching. But we told our kids how special they are, oh you know the story. Also all the BS that these union crumb bums talk buy American etc. Have you ever driven past a school, firehouse or police station, or for that matter any gov gravy train job station? If so they are some of the highest paid, best benefit packaged peeps in the country all unionized. And guess what when it come to supporting their union butt buddies in Detroit, well they give them the finger just like they do to us taxpayers. And buy their cars from Japan, Korea etc.
China is no diffenent than any other nation on the world scene today. They are working to gain all the financial, military and political leverage that they can achieve with regard to global status. If you understand that basic idea, then it is not difficult to formulate a policy to achieve a true Fair Trade balance. I will not go into the complexity of that here as it would take up several pages and be boring as watching paint dry. However, this is not the real issue as that lays in Washington DC where too many of our politicians are ready to give the Chinese any concession they want. Both parties give lots of lip service to "dealing with China" but you should know that in the end nothing is going to change. A nation that holds almost 2 trillion dollars of your debt has more than enough leverage to hold off any major unfavorable economic or political change.
Bought the big three cars for the last 45 years, had them all. But this August when it was time to buy another car I changed direction and bought my first foreign one a Honda. Got tired of supporting those union auto workers, who send a portion of their dues money over to the Dumbocrats. And then every election vote in lock step with them. So let the teachers, or cops or whoever of the public service union members buy their cars, for me they can rot in hell for all I care.
Army- What a patriot you are not, those darn Unions how dare they stand up for good pay and benifits, how dare they stand up for American workers..
Collective bargining gives workers a actual seat at the table with Corporations!
As unions have declined so has the middleclass, now I wonder why that is? DOH!
Many forign cars are made here in America!
O&JOE
Sorry hummerbird but I did my time for the good old US of A. Spent 2 in the Army, a year in the Nam, 48 years working. Paying god awful taxes here in NY state. So the teachers, cop, firemen could get fatter and fatter. Yea and the Honda etc are built here, by non union workers, like the unions go ahead and support them, still a free country. Me I'll take my money somewhere eles.
Romney loves to talk about China, how many business in China did he and his Co invest in?
How many jobs were sent to China by Romney and his investors?
People like Trump talk about China, now where are the clothes and ties he is hocking made? CHINA!
Romney, Trump and republicans= HUGE HYPOCRITES!
O&JOE
The U.S. one percent had the greed, China had the cheap labor, and the U.S. consumer had the ignorance, the lack of willpower, and the credit card -- and the rest is history. Outsourcing and off shoring could have been stopped at any time by the U.S. consumer had they the willpower. Don't blame China, don't blame Walmart - blame yourselves. What do you think finally gave China the economic clout to become a superpower -- the continued imbalance in trade created by the American consumer.
Globalization and greed is the cause for American problems, not China........Their people deserve freedom, jobs with fair wages, and peace.......Politicians and corporate bosses have sold out the American Middle Class in order to become wealthy at the expense of the average American who only wants the same things....freedom, jobs with fair wages and peace.
China will soon become America’s most serious enemy and a total war with China may be inevitable. The question remains whether the American government will have the moral clarity and backbone to understand that a policy of appeasement towards China will simply accelerate America’s demise and herald the dawn of a new global dark age of communist oppression. The first step towards unconditional victory against China must be the removal of the communist Appeaser in Chief now residing in the White House. On November 6th, vote for American exceptionalism, vote for “Honest” Mitt Romney and “Patriot” Paul Ryan.
OMG Honest Mitt and Patriot Ryan you have got to be kidding!!!!!!! Romney is so invested in China it isn't funny. He is invested in two of the largest oil drilling companies in China, he owns two factories in China that employs thousands of Chinese labor at less than a dollar an hour and no benefits. He sells spyware made at one of his other foreign companies and that spyware is used by China to spy on it's own people and the United States, that alone is a treasonous act. So if Romney wins the election the United States will probably start buying more oil from China than from Canada and the Middle East so his investments will pay off. Also if he is so honest why did he have to buy Hart Intercivic an manufacturer of electronic voting machines being used across the nation and in 6 of the 9 swing states including the big one of Ohio. He probably honestly has them rigged so that every third or so Obama vote gets registered as a Romney vote. Then how about not showing us his 10 or so years of taxes and that is because he would end up in prison for tax evasion. Romney is as far from being honest as pigs can fly. He is also invested heavily in the tar oils in Canada so building the disastorus pipe line across our nation would make his investments pay off again. He is not running for President for you or me he is running for himself, his family and the rest of the 1% leaving the rest of us 99% in the mud trying to survive. It is time people stop believeing his lies and and sneaky ways. He is not Presidential material and far from being honest.
To quote the ultra rich......we need to lower our expectations
George Bush is giving a media blacked out speech to the Ultra rich in the Cayman Islands where they go to evade paying US taxes.......Vote Obama to preserve the American middle class
Romney as president would leave the east coast spinning in the breeze to fend for themselves
And why shouldn't we? A hurricane hitting the NYC area has been predicted for decades and none of the municipalities or states have done anything to prepare. Thousands of people ignored the mandatory evac orders. This is just like Katrina. How irresponsible are the state and city governments, not to mention the individual citizens, that they do nothing to preserve their essential property and infrastructure and then whine about how slow and uneven the responders are? Staten Island is an obvious case. The tallest point on the island is 410 feet, the predicted storm surge is 6 to 11 feet which hit at high tide. The calculation is easy enough for third graders, there could be a 20 foot wall of water washing over the edges of the island during a torrential rain storm with 90 mph winds. And people do not leave? Insane. It is infuriating that we have to keep spending money to rebuild parts of cities that we know Nature is going to erase again anyway. For New Orleans, turn the 9th Ward (sitting below sea level) into a park and flood control basin. Do not let anyone live there.