China Our Creditor, Our Competitor

President Hu Jintao of China visits the United States this week; events include a state dinner Wednesday at the White House. The visit, billed as an effort to improve relations between China and the U.S., which have sometimes seemed a little tenuous in the past year, has aroused some overwrought speculation about how or whether such improvement can be made. It should not be that difficult to treat China as a normal nation, subject to criticism but not overt interference.

Perhaps the most bizarre concern expressed is that President Hu does not have the dictatorial power some of his predecessors had to turn the entire country of China on a dime — that other power centers, including state corporate interests and the military, have to be taken into account. Cited as evidence of President Hu's limited powers at home is the apparent fact that, when Defense Secretary Gates visited China last week, and the Chinese military unveiled a new "stealth" aircraft, President Hu was reportedly as surprised as was Mr. Gates.

Well! Shouldn't we be pleased if power is truly more dispersed within China? For the short run that might limit Hu Jintao's ability to make a deal here and impose it on recalcitrant elements in China, but for the longer run it should mean that prospects are improving for more liberty in the most populous country on Earth and that China is becoming more like a normal country.

That doesn't mean it is inappropriate that President Hu will face a number of demonstrations and news conferences denouncing the still-lamentable human-rights situation in China.

Nor is it out of line to complain about Chinese firms pirating U.S. technology and other intellectual property.

But it's misplaced to lament that it has not proven possible for the United States and China, as the world's two largest economies, to form sort of a "G-2" to dominate global economic development and trade issues. As a large economy — and as the U.S. government's largest creditor — it will not be surprising if China continues to expand its regional influence, and it certainly must be taken into account. But China is an economic and political competitor, neither a sworn eternal enemy nor the ideal partner for exercising joint influence over the rest of the world.

The sooner U.S.-China relations approach normality the better.

REPRINTED FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER.

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