China's growing global influence does not pose a threat to US''

Washington, Aug 4 (UNI) China's growing influence on the world stage is ''a natural consequence of its economic growth and development, and does not pose a threat to the United States,'' says Mr Thomas Christensen, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific affairs.

Testifying before before the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, yesterday Mr Christensen said the Bush administration is ''working hard to ensure that China recognises its own interest in supporting and strengthening the international system.'' ''I think China increasingly recognises this interest and we are making progress in many areas of mutual concern,'' he added.

Mr Christensen said ''areas of mutual interest have grown over the past 27 years'' and predicted that they would continue to grow.

The central point of US policy toward China today, Christensen said, combines ''active engagement to maximise areas of common interest and cooperation'' along with a recognition that the United States needs to maintain its strong regional capabilities ''in case China does not eventually move down a path consistent with our interests.'' He said the United States repeatedly has expressed its interest in the emergence of a China that is ''peaceful and prosperous, and that actively participates in and contributes to international institutions.'' He made it amply clear that the US does not seek to contain China, ''but rather to help channel China's growing influence in a positive direction,'' he added.

On the diplomatic front, Mr Christensen said, the United States is working closely with China, engaging ''on an extremely broad range of issues in which we believe China and the US have common interests.'' He acknowledged there are many areas in which the United States and China have very different views, but said, ''We never miss any opportunity to let China know of our concerns.'' These areas of US concern include China's need to strengthen respect for human rights and religious freedom, as well as introduce democracy to its system.

Mr Christensen was optimistic about the development of China as a ''responsible stakeholder''.

''Our engagement with China,'' Mr Christensen said, ''takes place in many different forums, both bilateral and multilateral, and at many different levels. But it always has the same objective: seek to identify and maximise the areas in which we have common interests, build upon those interests to mutual benefit, and, in those areas in which we differ, encourage China to understand our concerns and change its behaviour in ways that will advance not only our interests, but also its own.'' The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, created by the US Congress in 2000, monitors US-China economic relations and their national security implications.

UNI XC VJ RK0720