Demands from a Chinese Citizen and Economic Warfare

I recently read a letter in the People’s Daily from what is supposed to be an ordinary Chinese citizen. The writer points out the dilemma for both China and the US at Copenhagen. To pass a climate treaty, one of the two countries will have to sacrifice significantly and leave Copenhagen unhappy.

The letter states:

Many Chinese people wish to live the envious European and American lifestyle they see in movies, but their plans have abruptly been called to an end… Both people around me and I certainly hope to have a cleaner, cooler environment with less climate disasters and are willing to pay the price that we are able to shoulder. However, what confuses me is how the price should be shared between the six billion people of the world? Should the huge lifestyle gap between developing and developed countries remain unchanged for good like hereditary rule? If so, where will our motivations for striving for the future come from?

The average Chinese citizen should expect their nation to protect their interests and help their economy expand raising the standard of living. The same can be said about the average US citizen. The problem is that the Chinese want the US and other western nations to halt economic development by imposing high taxes and hurdles for development due to restrictions caused by an international climate treaty. The US wants China to be held responsible for its current emissions and to share in the burden of reducing worldwide emissions.

China’s expansion over the last decade has led to dramatic increases in pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. This was exposed to the world during the Beijing Olympics where China had to force closures of manufacturing plants and clear the highways of vehicles just to make the air safe enough for athletes to compete. China now wants to be treated as a developing nation for the purpose of a climate treaty which would allow it to continue polluting and allow it to increase the total greenhouse gases it emits. China claims this will allow its citizens to have a higher standard of living approaching that of western nations.

China is however demanding that the US reduce greenhouse gases significantly and pay China and other developing nations to alter their economy in preparation for supposed global warming. These will not only strain the US’s already busted economy, it will also force a dramatic reduction in the lifestyle of most Americans. There is much more driving this effort than climate concerns. This is economic warfare.

China has a history of trade disputes with the US including import restrictions, tarrifs, counterfeit goods, and currency manipulation. The Copenhagen conference has brought yet another trade dispute between China and the US. US legislation would impose tariffs for some imported goods if by 2020 the exporting nation, such as China, has not done enough to cut greenhouse gas emissions. China of course opposes this legislation and is demanding protections be placed in any treaty to come out of the Copenhagen Conference.

The Obama administration and senators must view this treaty as economic warfare and must protect the US economy and its citizens. It is critical that the public make their voices heard now!

Tags: Beijing Olympics, China, Climate Change, copenhagen, greenhouse gas emissions