NEW YORK— Chinese President Hu Jintao denied on Thursday that his country was interested in competing militarily with the United States — but warned against any foreign interference regarding Taiwan and Tibet.
Delivering his only speech during his four-day visit to the United States, Hu also made clear that China’s ruling Communist party remained committed to building a “socialist country” and that freedoms would be defined within the context of socialism.
“We will develop a socialist democracy, and build a socialist country under the rule of law,” Hu said in his speech, which he delivered to a mainly business audience in Washington.
“We will make continuous progress in our endeavour to build a prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious modern socialist country.”
The wording appeared to qualify references he made a day earlier on the question of democratizing China, during his news conference with U.S. President Barack Obama. Speaking from talking points rather than the unwavering script of a speech, Hu had surprised many China watchers by saying his government was working to“promote democracy and the rule of law” in the world’s fastest growing power.
Hu’s use of the word “harmonious” in his speech was also significant for China watchers. Chinese leaders frequently speak of seeking harmony within society, but their use of the word is often taken in the West to be a metaphor for social clampdown.
Hu additionally said in his speech that his government would“improve” rather than replace the “socialist market economy” — a reference to the system in which the Communist party tightly controls the free market reforms it began introducing a few decades ago.
Significantly, Hu’s remarks Wednesday about promoting democracy in China, and what he said about China having more to do to improve on its human rights record, were not even carried on China’s main television news bulletins.
On military policy, Hu told the business leaders that China did not seek dominance over other nations.
“We do not engage in arms races or pose a military threat to any country,” he said. “China will never seek hegemony or pursue an expansionist policy.”
China has 2.26 million military personnel on active duty, versus 1.58 million for the United States, whose overall population is less than a quarter of the size of China’s. But in comparison to the U.S., China is spending more than double the percentage of its national income on its armed forces, and it recently began test flying its first stealth fighter jet — a plane that would rival America’s F-22 Raptor.
Hu referred to Tibet and Taiwan as issues that“concern Chinese sovereignty and integrity” and so are out of bounds for foreign comment or action. “They touch on the national sentiment of 1.3 million Chinese,” he said, reflecting the Chinese view that its 1950 move into Tibet, and its call for re-absorbing Taiwan, do not constitute expansionism.
Hu met earlier Thursday with U.S. Congressional leaders, many of whom have been somewhat hostile in comments they’ve made about China regarding America’s numerous differences with that country over economic and security issues.
But his meetings with key members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives were reportedly somewhat more cordial than expected.
U.S. officials even warned reporters not to ask Hu questions as a security detail escorted him into the Capitol and ushered him into an elevator.
Some lawmakers at the House meeting griped that Hu took up much of the time by taking 20 minutes to answer questions from Republican House leader John Boehner on trade and the U.S. call for China to respect intellectual property rights.
Democratic Senate leader Harry Reid, who had last week called Hu“a dictator” before retracting the comment, said he was to focus on China’s currency policy and its poor human rights record.
Both Boehner and Reid boycotted the state dinner Obama hosted for Hu at the White House Wednesday night.
Postmedia News
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