The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2019

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2019 37 W inston Churchill famously referred to Russia as “a riddle wrapped in a mys- tery inside an enigma.” Doubtless, many would agree the same could be said of China. During nearly four decades deal- ing off and on with China, first as a university teacher and then as a diplomat with the Foreign Agricultural Service, I have seen hundreds of officials and exporters from dozens of countries smack their fore- heads in surprise and frustration at Chinese behavior— Philip A. Shull is a retired FSO who served in China (three times), the Philippines, Argentina, Korea and Hong Kong during 31 years with the Foreign Agricul- tural Service. He is a retiree representative on the 2017-2019 AFSA Governing Board. To reach a new understanding with Beijing, we need to appreciate China’s history—and the worldview and expectations that motivate its leaders. BY PH I L I P A . SHUL L from unjustly rejected shipments and illogical lurches in negotiating positions to blatant disregard of World Trade Organization commitments. Since the United States and the People’s Republic of China established diplomatic relations in 1979, the relationship has swung back and forth between one of glowing expressions of opti- mism about shared interests in a peaceful and prosperous world, and one of tension andmutual mistrust. Always underpinning hopes for a happy future on the U.S. side was the basic assumption that China would join the international community as a “respon- sible” player, and that the obvious benefits of a “rules-based” systemof trade and diplomacy would inevitably lead China in that direction, to the betterment—and enrichment—of all. Since Beijing’s accession to the WTO in 2001, trade with China has exploded and the country’s potential as a market has become greater than ever. Yet the promise of China operating as a trusted DEALINGWITH THE DRAGON FOCUS MANAGING COMPETITION WITH CHINA ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/NAUMAX