US policy toward the PRC: "the 4 Cs” — cooperation, competition, criticism and containment — Jerome A. Cohen | 孔傑榮（柯恩）

US policy toward the PRC: "the 4 Cs” — cooperation, competition, criticism and containment — Jerome A. Cohen | 孔傑榮（柯恩）

By Jerome A. Cohen

Here is a stimulating piece by Steve Orlins, president of the National Committee on US-China Relations for so many years, stressing the importance of Sino-American cooperation in combatting Covid-19. Among other things, Steve discusses the difference between healthy competition and strategic competition.

In a recent Zoom talk, I tried to come up with a catchy slogan summarizing the elements of a balanced US policy toward the PRC.  I called it “the 4 Cs” — cooperation, competition, criticism and containment.

Each of these concepts requires refinement and continuous adjustment. At this time, I’d like to see more discussion, for example, of the differences between desirable containment and dangerous containment.

Also, the scope and emphasis to be given to criticism is an almost daily dilemma for me personally because of requests to comment on this or that PRC policy or action infringing on international political and civil rights as well as rights mentioned in the PRC Constitution. Every criticism provides more ammunition to those who advocate decoupling from the PRC and frustrating its development, policies that I oppose.

Yet self-censorship would be unacceptable and constitute abandonment of hope for moderating the excesses of Beijing’s dictatorship through international exposure and pressures. It would also represent a failure to honor the moral obligation to speak on behalf of the many Chinese who are not allowed to speak of human rights abuses in their country.