경제 위기와 관련하여 사실상 가장 중요한 문제(라고 제가 생각하는 문제)인 중국과 미국의 관계에 대해서 조금씩 이야기가 나오고 있군요. 이 기사들을 읽으면서 “과연 우리 아이들은 어떤 가치관을 가지고 살게 될까?”하는 우려인지 걱정인지 호기심인지가 들었습니다.
미국은 중국화폐를 평가절상해야 한다고 하는데, 중국은 오히려 평가절하를 하면서 이건 우리 문제가 아니라 너희들 문제라고, 그러니까 지금 문제는 중국화의 평가절상 문제가 아니고, 오히려 미국이 이자율을 높여야 한다고…
It is hardly going to please Washington, yet some degree of yuan depreciation looks probable, as Chinese leaders scramble to stem mounting layoffs in the country’s primary manufacturing belt. Falling commodity prices act as a safeguard, ensuring that a sliding yuan will not significantly erode domestic Chinese consumer spending power. The yuan’s long-term trend of appreciation is unlikely to be seriously interrupted, though, even as Beijing aims to convert the economy from export reliant to domestic demand driven.
The yuan’s ebb against the dollar this week sparked speculation that Beijing wants give exporters a boost to counter the country’s sharper than expected slowdown. The development worried those on the opposite side of the Pacific eager to narrow the U.S. trade deficit, just as Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson wrapped up annual cabinet-level economic talks Friday with Beijing. The timing of the move may signal a warning to President-elect Barack Obama, who said during his campaign that China manipulates its currency. (See “Reading Obama’s Trade Tea Leaves.”) ...
Though Paulson extracted no commitments on the yuan from Chinese officials, the two countries agreed to have their export-import banks inject $20.0 billion into trade financing since exporters are facing difficulties obtaining short-term financing. China also pledged that foreign banks will be able to trade bonds on the same terms as Chinese banks. (Yuan’s Ebb Prompts U.S. Anxiety )
The US urged China on Friday not to “roll back” the appreciation of its currency that has taken place over the last two years to prevent an even sharper economic slowdown.
Hank Paulson, Treasury secretary, said that the main reason for job losses among Chinese exporters was slowing global demand, not currency appreciation.
“Some people in China, looking at the slowing global economy and seeing what is happening to exports, might blame it on currency appreciation and seek to roll that back,” he said in Beijing. “China understands, as do we, how important currency reform is to rebalancing growth in China…
The two governments warned against the danger of increased protectionism and pledged to boost co-operation to deal with the global financial crisis, promising to make $20bn of trade finance credit available to developing countries struggling to pay for US and Chinese exports.
Mr Paulson said the fiscal stimulus package announced by the Chinese government was “very welcome”. “The Chinese leadership is very focused on what is happening here and will do whatever it takes to maintain growth,” he said.
Chinese officials restated concerns about their heavy exposure to US public debt. Asked about China’s plans for future purchases of US Treasury bonds, Zhu Guangyao, China’s assistant finance minister, said: “We hope the US side will seriously consider China’s concerns and protect the interests of Chinese investors.”
Mr Paulson played down the risks of foreign governments selling out their holdings. ”It is a fact that China is an investor in US securities,” he said. “I do not see any countries with holdings so large that I view it as a threat.” (Paulson urges China not to curb currency )
결국 따지고 보면, 이 문제는 미국과 중국의 관계 문제로 귀결되는 것 같은데… 채권자 중국과 채무자 미국, 지금까지 우리가 익숙하게 알고 있던 자유와 진보와 민주주의의 국가 미국과 야만과 인권탄압과 공산주의의 나라 중국의 이미지와 어떻게 연결될지… 왜 앞으로 보게 될 세상은 지금까지 알고 있던 세상과는 완전히 다를 것이라는 느낌이 들죠?
추가:
“We hope the US side will take the necessary measures to stabilise the economy and financial markets as well as guarantee the safety of China’s assets and investments in the US,” he said.
The dialogue was dominated by the global crisis. Zhou Xiaochuan, governor of the Chinese central bank, urged the US to rebalance its economy. “Over-consumption and a high reliance on credit is the cause of the US financial crisis,” he said. “As the largest and most important economy in the world, the US should take the initiative to adjust its policies, raise its savings ratio appropriately and reduce its trade and fiscal deficits.” (China lectures US on economy )
