PRESS RELEASE
Helga Zepp-LaRouche Takes Lead Chinese Radio International Discussion of China-U.S. Relations
Sept. 28, 2015 (EIRNS)—Schiller Institute Founder Helga-Zepp LaRouche was interviewed by phone as part of a panel of experts in a 55-minute news discussion of China-U.S. relations on China Radio International News Show on Sept. 25, hosted by Liu Kun and Brian Kopczynski. Other guests included three academic China-U.S. Relations experts: Prof. Tao Wenzhao of the Chinese Academy of Social Science; Prof. Rick Dunham, Tsinghua University, and Prof. Mark Beeson of the University of Western Australia.
China Radio International is the state-owned international radio broadcaster of the People’s Republic of China.
The first question was, "What makes the two political giants, China and the U.S. like each other, and what turns them apart?" Zepp-LaRouche replied,
"It is extremely important that the two most important countries in the world in terms of size and power have a stable relationship; the better part of the U.S. is looking at China from that standpoint. On President Xi’s part, he has made it very clear that he wants to open up with the ‘win-win’ policy. However, now, I really think there is a complete disparity right now between how the two countries go about things."
The interviewer noted that "only USA Today had a headline on President Xi’s visit."
"How does China fit into the current global strategy of the U.S., and vice-versa?" was the next question. Mrs. LaRouche replied,
"I think the various proposals coming from China, which I think are very much based on the Confucian conception that the world can only function if it’s based on a harmonious relation among nations, is really the key. This is expressed in President Xi’s offer of win-win cooperation; actually, he invited Obama to cooperate with China last year at the APEC meeting on the New Silk Road; on the One Road, One Belt policy, together with the idea of having a new model among major nations. It’s a completely different concept of international relations among nations based on sovereignty, mutual respect, and recognition of different social systems. I think that is the model which is right now very attractive, and which has been adopted by the BRICS countries; it reaches out to ASEAN, and also to Ibero-American countries, who enjoy that kind of win-win cooperation with China.
"I think, from the Chinese standpoint, the biggest problem and hope, at the same time, would be that the United States responds to that—the offer to the U.S. is still on the table, and I think various Chinese media have repeated that offer: that the Europeans, the United States, and China should cooperate.
"I can only hope that the U.S., which is in deep trouble right now—I mean, its financial system is in terrible shape; many people say it’s worse than 2008; you could have a major blowout of the financial system at any moment. And the only way the U.S. could get out of it would be if the U.S. would see that chance in that offer right now; you have an a major divide: some people see it would be absolutely in the interest of the U.S., and it should cooperate; others say no, we are the only leader in the world—the only major power; Russia is only a regional power, and China should be contained....
"Even Joint Chiefs of Staff head Gen. Martin Dempsey has warned that the U.S. should not walk into a Thucydides trap and see China as a threat, and try to go to war. And if the U.S. JCS head is warning of that, he must have a good reason."
This was followed by a discussion of China’s economy by the three professors, with Prof. Dunham saying, "It concerns me a bit, that the U.S. decided not to take part in the AIIB, and is instead pushing the competing idea of the TPP." Prof. Tao noted that many Americans, Henry Kissinger and others, welcome the AIIB, and criticize Obama for not joining.
The interviewer asked Zepp-LaRouche,
"Can economic and trade links still function as the main stabilizer of the bedrock overall relations between the U.S. and China?"
She replied,
"I think absolutely, yes. If there are strong economic ties, that is a way to overcome all the present tensions. Of all the deals, I would emphasize the U.S. and China have agreed to build a fast train between Los Angeles and Las Vegas; it is not my favorite route, because it goes to a casino, but the fact China is providing its very, very advanced technology of advanced trade—18,000 kilometers of which has been built inside China, which are of excellent quality. Everybody knows that the infrastructure of the U.S. needs urgent improvement; the roads, and there is no functional train system.
"I have proposed the U.S. take up the win-win offer. There could be cooperation for developing the train system of the entire U.S. Why not build these from the West to the East Coast, and on the East Coast, they would be far superior to airplanes. If the U.S. would just join the New Silk Road initiative, it would mean the U.S. could be rebuilt."
The professors then discussed the Chinese economy’s drop, citing a statistic from Moody’s Analytics that for every 1% drop in the Chinese economy, U.S. growth drops .2%, as exemplifying its ripple effect on the world.
Helga LaRouche interrupted:
"I would like to comment on this; there is a very big difference, because the U.S. economy is mainly asset-driven—very much asset-driven; very much Wall Street; very much monetarist values, where the Chinese economy for the most part is based on real economy. China has incredible industrial growth; it is engaged in industrial projects with countries around the world.
"So even if there was a little problem with the stock market in China, it is much less significant. Wall Street is absolutely bankrupt. I would not compare these two economies in this way. The reality is that Wall Street is absolutely bankrupt. The real economy in the U.S. is in absolutely terrible condition. The fact that the Chinese economy has started to branch out to many parts of the world gives the Chinese economy more substance and validity."
The final question to Zepp-LaRouche was "What can be expected to be accomplished in this trip between these two leaders?"
She answered,
"I have written an appeal to the political leaders who will address the UN General Assembly in the next few days, that they should not miss possibly the last opportunity to create a new paradigm for the world. We have so many problems; we have the danger of a financial blowout; war, terrorism, the refugee crisis in Europe, which is really getting out of control, so I think we need a new era of civilization. And I think the ‘win-win’ offer of President Xi is the best model on the agenda for that."
