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U.S., Obama must show strength as we host Chinese president Xi Jinping

US NEWS USCHINA-XI 1 LA
Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping is the featured speaker at the U.S.-China Economy and Trade Cooperation Forum, in Los Angeles, California, on Friday, February 17, 2012. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/MCT)

President Barack Obama has a tight rope to walk as Chinese president Xi Jinping arrives this week to enjoy some porterhouse steaks and discuss some of the most important national security concerns of the century. 

This meeting comes at a time of serious concern over China's recent acts of aggression, including the contested construction of military bases on islands in the South China Sea, signs of instability in the Chinese economy and the recent cyberattack that acquired over 21.5 million government officials' personal information.

Obama's actions this week are crucial to our international relations with China because he needs to establish that cyberattacks and aggressions in the Pacific will not be tolerated. I'm calling for our President to keep his emotions and a need to be liked out of the equation. Our president should implore China to end its combative actions, or else the U.S. will pursue aggressive procedures in retaliation. 

This year China has expanded and constructed military bases on the islands in the South China Sea, disregarding warnings from the U.S. and the security concerns expressed by the Philippine and Japanese governments. Japan and the Philippines are gravely concerned because the bases and landing strips give China the ability to easily bombard its territories to smithereens, while also impeding on business ventures in the region. Obama has to show his support of these smaller countries and must ensure China does not bully Japan and the Philippines without consequence. 

Furthermore, Obama must show strength in warning China to end cyber security breaches in the U.S. Repeated attacks on the intellectual property of American businesses are harming our economic interests in China as they continue to steal important information from whoever they want without any contest from the U.S. 

Gary Locke, the first Chinese-American ambassador to China, commented on the importance of cyber security from an economic standpoint. "For many foreign companies in China, there are concerns about a level playing field; about a strong, transparent legal system that will enforce intellectual property rights; about just being allowed to operate in China," Locke told the New York Times.

The protection of American businesses in China is pertinent to continuing and strengthening the economic ties between the U.S. and China. Stock markets around the globe were rocked by a massive decline in the Chinese economy, demonstrating the dependence of the world economy on that country's continued growth.

Once the discussions over national security concerns are completed, and the firm tone is set, Obama and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry must discuss how to further positive working relationships. There is a way to show strength while also exemplifying the ability to negotiate with China towards the common interest of strengthening the economic ties between our countries. 

If Obama is capable of completing these important tasks regarding American national security concerns and business relations, it could set the stage for the continuance of positive relations between the countries in the coming decades. Strengthening ties between the U.S. and China would serve to bolster our countries positions as the two strongest countries in the world. 

Related Links:

Same Dream, Different Beds: Shared ends through different means in U.S., China

'Made in China' may no longer mean made poorly


Reach the columnist at gpaulsoccer@yahoo.com or follow @GrahamASUpress on Twitter.

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