Obama's top diplomatic nominee for East Asia said that the rise of China has enormous implications for the United States. And as the Obama Administration plans to engage China on a host of economic and diplomatic issues, human rights and Tibet would continue to remain a subject of concern, he said.
"China's rise has enormous implications for the United States but more directly and more urgently, in the short term, for Japan," said Kurt Campbell, Obama nominee for the post of Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs.
"I think that's sometimes been difficult for our Japanese friends, as it has been for the United States," Campbell said in his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee yesterday.
"My approach to this is that the best way to engage China is with the strongest possible partnership with Japan and for Japanese friends to know that we are behind them," he said.
"We support their strong role not only in the region but globally, but also to underscore to them that they share similar goals about what we look for, in terms of China's evolution into a great power," Campbell said.
Responding to a question, Campbell said climate change has now emerged as a major issue between China and the US. "Unless the United States and China together take climate change issues seriously, it's very difficult to imagine much success in an international forum," he said.
Observing that China's military build-up is an issue that needs to be more transparent, he said, "We need a deeper engagement. We have mechanisms in place that allow us to develop greater trust and confidence with our Chinese interlocutors in the PLA."
In his prepared statement, Campbell said US-China relationship is complex, it is developing rapidly and it is one of the most consequential of our bilateral relationships.
"China's rise as an economic power and its growing political and diplomatic influence are developments with global and not merely regional ramifications," he said.
President Obama agreed with President Hu at the G-20 Summit in London that both the United States and China will seek to build a positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship for the 21st century, he said.
"The American people expect us to continue the promotion of human rights and religious freedom in China. If confirmed, I will ensure that human rights, religious freedom for all China's citizens, and development of the rule of law and civil society remain strong pillars of our engagement. The situation in Tibet will remain a subject of engagement and concern," Campbell said.
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