China’s successful anti-satellite missile test has triggered an economic and political firestorm in the United States. China has recently conducted a missile test that shot down one of its own satellites and this has made explicit that why Washington is increasing uncomfortable with Beijing’s military ambitions. Now, the U.S. is contemplating to refine controls on sensitive American export. However, the proposal has come under fierce criticism from many technology exporters.
Assistant Secretary of Commerce Christopher Padilla has recently stated in press, ‘Even as we work to encourage China’s peaceful development and civilian trade, we must also hedge our relations with China’. Padilla has visited China to discuss with officials and U.S. business executives as he is working on draft rules directed to constrict some export controls to the booming Asian power at the same tome relaxing requirements for some companies and products.
However, the proposed rules have been vehemently denounced by many technology exporters in the U.S. They have based their argument on the logic that it would prove to them unwieldy and costly. Obviously, the proposed rules will enable European and other competitors to score over U.S. exporters without improving U.S. security.
Moreover, the Bush administration has assured that it will consult the companies to hear their concerns before drafting the final rules in coming months. The administration pointed out that critic had exaggerated the effect of present U.S. export restrictions. The new set of rules is expected to smooth legitimate civilian trade and at the same time discouraging diversion of advanced computers, materials and other technologies to China’s military.
In these circumstances, Washington need to act very carefully as it would under pressure to continue balancing commercial interest with military concerns. However, the administration maintains that there is a certain duality inherent in their policy with China.
