Âeijing's Pain Points

200
DOI: 10.20542/0131-2227-2020-64-5-5-15
V. Mikheev (mikheev@imemo.ru),
Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations, Russian Academy of Sciences (IMEMO), 23, Profsoyuznaya Str., Moscow, 117997, Russian Federation;
S. Lukonin (sergeylukonin@mail.ru),
Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations, Russian Academy of Sciences (IMEMO), 23, Profsoyuznaya Str., Moscow, 117997, Russian Federation

Abstract. The circle of the most acute problems facing the Chinese leadership remains unchanged: relations with the United States, domestic political stability, economic growth, etc. However, by the beginning of 2020, the priority structure of these topics had changed. Prospects for completing the so-called “first stage” of the bilateral trade deal between China and the United States and signing the corresponding agreement were outlined. Trade deal was done on January 15, 2020. The decrease in trade tensions highlighted the growing Sino-American confrontation on other topics: military construction in China, the human rights situation in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous region and the struggle for control of the world’s 5G space, which appears to be of long-term strategic importance. Against the background of some easing of trade relations between the P.R.C. and the U.S. by the beginning of 2020, the topic of Hong Kong is gaining new urgency. In Hong Kong the Chinese leadership continues to face a dilemma: go for a military action or use peaceful mechanisms. By the beginning of 2020, it seems that the “non-forceful approach” is still steadily prevailing. At the end of 2019, the United States took a number of steps to put legal pressure on Beijing on the Hong Kong issue. The U. S. laws S. 1838 “On Human Rights and Democracy in Hong Kong” and H.R. 4270 “On Restrictions on the Export of Tear Gas and Crowd Control Technologies to Hong Kong” should be considered from the viewpoint of the global political and economic rivalry between the United States and China. In general, these laws are primarily aimed at improving the effectiveness of the U.S. tariff and sanctions policy against China. The topic of economic growth becomes a priority for the Chinese leadership. GDP growth in 2019 slowed slightly to 6.1%, but was in the “planned fork” of 6.0–6.5%. In this context, discussions about “optimal rates” of economic growth are beginning to intensify again in the PRC. One part of economists continues to argue that China should keep economic growth at the 6% mark “at all costs”. Opponents of this approach speak of the so-called “new normality”, in the sense that it is important to focus not so much on the pace as on the quality of economic development indicators. From December 10 to 12, 2019, the Central Meeting on Economic Work was held in Beijing, during which clear requirements were put forward in relation to the economic development of China in 2020. The main leitmotif is stability and quality of growth. By the beginning of 2020, Russian-Chinese relations have established trends that are likely to determine the direction of bilateral relations in the short term. Beijing and Moscow will demonstrate the strengthening of their strategic partnership in every possible way. On the other hand, Russia and China will try to muffle existing differences and contradictions. In strategic cooperation, Beijing does not agree to establish a military alliance with Moscow and refuses to participate in multilateral negotiations on nuclear missile issues, including the issue of medium- and short-range missiles.

Keywords: world economy, China, USA, “trade war”, “trade deal”, Hong Kong, Russian-Chinese relations


REFERENCES

1. Unpacking the ‘phase one’ deal for the US-China trade war. Available at: https://www.scmp.com/video/scmp-originals/3046359/unpacking-phase-one-us-china-trade-war (accessed 16.01.2020).

2. China Announced the Start of Development of the 6G Network. Technology and Media, 07.11.2019. (In Russ.) Available at: https://www.rbc.ru/technology_and_media/07/11/2019/5dc4670d9a794761ec3a89d4 (accessed 16.01.2020).

3. A Drop in Tourism Is Threatening Hong Kong’s Economy. PIIE. Available at: https://www.piie.com/blogs/china-economic-watch/drop-tourism-threatening-hong-kongs-economy (accessed 01.10.2019).

4. Hong Kong Tourism Plunges 40%, Most Since SARS Crisis. Bloomberg News, 09.09.2019. Available at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-09-09/hong-kong-mall-owners-fall-as-tourism-arrivals-plunge-40 (accessed 01.10.2019).

5. FS Announces Measures to Support Enterprises and Residents. Available at: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201908/15/P2019081500648.htm (accessed 01.10.2019).

6. Hong Kong’s Economic Outlook Remains Positive Despite Challenges. The National Law Review, 25.02.2020 Available at: https://www.natlawreview.com/article/hong-kong-s-economic-outlook-remains-positive-despite-challenges (accessed 10.02.2020).

7. S.1838 – Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019. Available at: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/1838/text (accessed 10.02.2020).

8. H.R.4270 – Placing Restrictions on Teargas Exports and Crowd Control Technology to Hong Kong Act. Available at: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/4270 (accessed 10.02.2020).

9. S.1838 – Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019. Available at: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/1838/text (accessed 10.02.2020).

10. S.1731 – United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992. Available at: https://www.congress.gov/bill/102nd-congress/senatebill/1731 (accessed 10.02.2020).

11. 2018年1–12月内地与香港经贸交流情况 [Economic and Trade Exchanges between Mainland China and Hong Kong in January-December 2018 (In Chin.)] Available at: http://www.mofcom.gov.cn/article/tongjiziliao/sjtj/ndyuxgjm/201903/20190302844193.shtml (accessed 25.12.2019).

12. Why China Still Needs Hong Kong. Available at: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/1838/text (accessed 01.02.2020).

13. HONG KONG. The Global Offshore Renminbi Business Hub. Available at: https://www.hkma.gov.hk/media/eng/doc/key-functions/monetary-stability/rmb-business-in-hong-kong/hkma-rmb-booklet_accessible.pdf (accessed 25.01.2020).

14. China’s Salaries Jumped 14.5% in Week after Lunar New Year Holiday. Yicai Global, 10.02.2020. Available at: https://www.yicaiglobal.com/news/china-salaries-jumped-145-in-week-after-lunar-new-year-holiday (accessed 10.02.2020).


Registered in System SCIENCE INDEX

For citation:
Mikheev V., Lukonin S. Âeijing's Pain Points. World Eñonomy and International Relations, 2020, vol. 64, no. 5, pp. 5-15. https://doi.org/10.20542/0131-2227-2020-64-5-5-15



Comments (0)

No comments

Add comment







Indexed

 

 

 

 

Dear authors! Please note that in the VAK List of peer-reviewed scientific journals, in which the main scientific results of dissertations for the degree of candidate and doctor of sciences should be published for the “MEMO Journal” the following specialties are recorded:
economic sciences:
5.2.5. World Economy.
5.2.1. Economic Theory
5.2.3. Regional and Branch Economics
political sciences:
5.5.4. International Relations
5.5.1. History and Theory of Politics
5.5.2. Political Institutions, Processes, Technologies

 

Current Issue
2024, vol. 68, No. 3
Topical Themes of the Issue:
  • Bretton Woods 2.0: Towards a New Global Financial Architecture
  • Transformation of the EU Political Party System on the Eve of the 2024 European Election
  • South Asia in Regional and World Politics
Submit an Article
INVITATION FOR PUBLICATION
The Editorial Board invites authors to write analytical articles on the following topics:
  • changes in the processes of globalization in modern conditions
  • formation of the new world order
  • shifts in civilization at the stage of transition to a digital society

The editors are also interested in publishing synthesis articles / scientific reviews revealing the main trends in the development of certain regions of the world - Latin America, Africa, South Asia, etc.