2011 report to congress - U.S.-China Economic and Security Review ...

dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with $$_JOB272leverages what it learns from following this debate to constructpolicies that aim to undercut the most serious irritantsto domestic stability. 165In addition to monitoring the debate on domestic issues, the Chinesegovernment uses the Internet and public opinion to gauge theopinions of Internet users on China’s foreign policy decisions. Whilethe government largely censors the Internet in China, it also issensitive to the reactions of the Chinese people. David Shambaugh,professor at The George Washington University, notes:The Chinese government is quite sensitive to this body ofpublic opinion, as much of it is hyper-nationalistic andcritical of the government for being ‘weak’ or ‘soft’ in theface of foreign pressures and indignities. Foreign Ministryofficials are quick to point out that this is a constituencythey must constantly consider, react to, and attempt to control.166The ability of Internet users to mobilize en masse around a foreignpolicy issue was evident in 2005 when 40 million Chinesesigned an Internet petition opposing Japanese attempts to becomea permanent member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council.167 In a more current example of Chinese Internet users’ influenceover the way China relays its foreign policy, Dr. Downs testifiedabout the prominent news and Internet coverage of the recentChinese evacuation of its citizens from Libya. The Chinese responseto the crisis in Libya contrasted greatly with China’s responseto the kidnapping and murder of Chinese citizens in Ethiopiain 2007, which elicited sharp criticism of the government fromChinese Internet users for not coming to the aid of Chinese citizens.Dr. Downs asserted that the reason for the enhanced coverageof the Libya evacuation was to prevent the same type ofbacklash from Chinese Internet users that arose in 2007. 168Nevertheless, these voices are severely limited by China’s propagandaapparatus, which aggressively censors online material thatis deemed inappropriate. As a result, often the only voices that areleft on the Internet are those that already coincide with the opinionsof Beijing’s elite. Dr. Chen testified:It is hard to establish a link between online pressure andthe government’s foreign policy. It is more appropriate tosay that policymaking elites can entertain online expressionof interests, picking and choosing the ones they see as beingmost beneficial for the execution or conduct of foreign affairs.169Coordination of Foreign Policy Actors under the CCPThe proliferation of voices in Chinese foreign policy has made coordinationamong actors difficult in recent years. Often, in anygiven country, Beijing must manage the activities of the ministriesof Foreign Affairs, Commerce, Finance, Agriculture, Health, andthe Export Import Bank of China and China Development Bank.On top of that, companies, provincial governments, and researchinstitutions are launching their own relationships with specific nations.Ms. Lawrence noted, ‘‘[m]any of the Chinese players . . . nowVerDate Nov 24 2008 13:46 Nov 10, 2011 Jkt 067464 PO 00000 Frm 00284 Fmt 6601 Sfmt 6601 G:\GSDD\USCC\2011\067464.XXX 067464