China and the Jewish People Old Civilizations in a New Era
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China and the Jewish People Old Civilizations in a New Era China and the Jewish People Old Civilizations in a New Era STRATEGY PAPER by Dr. Shalom Salomon Wald Executive Report — Annual Assessment No. 1: Between Thriving and Decline — The Jewish People 2004 The Jewish People 2004 Between Thriving and Decline, is the first annual assessment that lays the foundation for professional strategic thinking and planning. Alert Paper No. 1: New Anti-Jewishness — by Prof. Irwin Cotler — Nov’ 2002 The new anti-Jewishness consists of the discrimination against, or denial of, the right of the Jewish people to live, as an equal member of the family of nations. Alert Paper No. 2: Jewish Demography — Facts, Outlook, Challenges — by Prof. Sergio Dellapergola. June 2003 There may be fewer Jews in the world than commonly thought, and if the current demo- graphic trends continue unchanged, there might be even fewer in the future. Outline Strategic Paper: Confronting Antisemitism — A Strategic Perspective — by Prof. Yehezkel Dror — May 2004 The increasing ability of fewer to easily kill more makes new antisemitism into a lethal danger that requires comprehensive, multi-dimensional and long-term counter-strategies. _________ Copyrights © 2004, The Jewish People Policy Planning Institute (Established by the Jewish Agency for Israel) Ltd, Jerusalem ISBN: 965-229-347-4 Editing: Rami Tal — JPPPI Typesetting: Marzel A.S. — Jerusalem Cover Design: S. Kim Glassman, Jerusalem Printed in Israel by Gefen Publishing House LTD. Jerusalem WWW. ISRAELBOOKS.COM CONTENTS Forword . 7 Executive Summary . .8 1. The Emergence of China . 8 2. China and the Jews: Assessing the Current State . .9 3. New Challenges . 10 4. Jewish Policy Responses . 11 Policy Recommendations . 15 1. Background and Aims . 27 1. Origin and Purpose of this Report . 27 2. Jewish People Policy Goals . 28 3. Cultural Policy as a Means to Strengthen Relations . .29 2. The New Context: China’s Re-emergence as a Great Power . 31 1. The Power of Culture in China’s Long History . 31 2. Long-Term Conditions for Great Power Status: A “Knowledge-Based” Economy . 32 3. Chinese Policy Challenges of the Twenty-First Century Affecting the Jewish People . .35 1. China’s Energy Security and Middle Eastern Oil . 35 2. Trends Towards Increasing Islamic Militancy in China . .39 3. Growing Interdependence between China and the United States . 42 4. The Evolution of China’s Relations with Israel . 45 4. Beginning Chinese Awareness of the Jewish People . 47 1. Jewish Encounters with China: A Summary . 47 2. Awareness of the Jewish People in Nineteenth- and Early Twentieth-century China . .48 5. Present Judaic Scholarship and its Influence . 52 1. A Narrow Academic Base with a Broad Outreach . .52 2. Who is Advising the Leaders of China? . 55 6. Current Chinese Views of Jews and Judaism . 59 1. The “Jew” in Chinese . 59 2. Important Chinese Perceptions . 61 7. New Areas of Interest and Old-New Dangers . 68 1. The Relationship with Christianity and the Danger of New Misconceptions . .68 2. The Relationship with Islam and New Moslem Hostility . .69 3. The Growing Shadow of the Intifada and the Chinese Public . 71 4. Western and Japanese Anti-Semitism . 73 8. Chinese Dilemmas and Expectations . 74 1. Chinese Policy Dilemmas . 74 2. The Trouble with Kaifeng . 75 3. Other Echoes of Policy Conflicts . 77 4. Chinese Expectations . 78 9. Jewish Policy Challenges . .82 1. Possible Policy Dissonances with China . 82 2. Chinese Opportunities and Needs . 84 3. Jewish Policy Shortcomings . 85 Annex 1. Questions Asked by Students following S. Wald’s Conferences in Chinese Universities, October and November 2003 . 87 Annex 2. Titles of Essays on Jewish History and Culture Submitted by Students of the University of Henan in Kaifeng in Summer 2003 . .91 Annex 3. Beijing College Students’ Understanding of Judaism . 93 Annex 4. Sources . .105 Annex 5. Acknowledgements . .106 Historic Appendix. Notes on Jewish Encounters with China across The Ages . 108 Notes . 115 FOREWORD There can be little doubt that China is emerging not only as an Asian power but as a major power on the world stage. China’s dynamic economic growth shapes markets worldwide now and in the years ahead will place an increasing demand on oil resources. As Shalom Salomon Wald explains in his excellent paper, China’s need for oil will give it an increasing stake in what Thappens in the Middle East. But this JPPPI paper is not simply about China’s emerging interest in the Middle East. It calls attention to the history of Jewish-Chinese relations. It observes that the Chinese reflect little or none of the traditional forms of anti-Semitism. Ironically, it is Wald’s contention that as China opens more to the world and as trade tensions potentially increase, there is a risk that a resur- gence of “the old canard of a Jewish world conspiracy” could seep into China. To date, it has not. On the contrary, Wald notes that many Chinese often tend to see the Jews as a mirror of their own history, they admire Jewish wealth and successes, they respect the great contributions that Jews have made to Western civilization (citing most often Marx, Einstein, and Freud), and they perceive themselves and the Jews as representing the “two oldest living civilizations.” Wald also observes that the Shoah has become the most widely known episode of Jewish history, and that, too, creates sympathy for the Jewish people. Against this array of positive factors, there is the Intifada and its coverage in China which has begun to affect the good image of Jews and Israelis. The growth of the Muslim population may deepen this trend, particularly as the daily images of violence are, according to this research, “upsetting many Chinese.” With China’s increasing significance, this strategic paper makes a strong and compelling case for much greater Jewish engagement with China. Indeed, it makes little sense not to follow this advice. There is something to be gained by building the Jewish relationship with the world’s most populous country and something to be lost if this is not done. The paper offers a range of policy recommendations, including the creation of a permanent delegation representing world Jewry to establish an ongoing channel of communication with the Chinese as well as a high level symposium for Chinese policy makers to discuss global issues and mutual relations. Whether one embraces all of the ideas, the research has clearly identified an area that has been little addressed and that offers important possibilities for the future of the Jewish people. Policy planning should be measured not only by trying to minimize emerging problems but also by taking advantage of potential opportunities. Salomon Wald has certainly met that standard in this paper. Ambassador Dennis Ross Chairman of the Board and Professional Guiding Council The Jewish People Policy Planning Institute THE JEWISH PEOPLE POLICY PLANNING INSTITUTE I 7 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. THE EMERGENCE OF CHINA Why China? China is re-emerging as a great power. This has global impacts in many areas. China’s domestic policies and foreign alignments are in flux. Its elites are avidly absorbing new knowledge and are open to many influences. The time to link up with China is now. Jewish history of the last two centuries was dominated by the fact that until 1939, up to 90 percent of all Jews lived in Europe and America, the two continents that determined the fate of the world. But the Shoah and the establishment of Israel have radically altered the geographic distribution of the Jews, and a gradual geopolitical power shift towards Asia is underway. These changes constitute a watershed in Jewish history and open up new oppor- tunities that must not be missed. Why will China’s policies affect the future of the Jewish people? For the first time, China will directly influence the fate of the Jews. The main challenges that China is facing are not created by Jews but will affect them. Jewish policy makers must put relations with China into a grand strategic frame. Four Chinese policy issues are of great relevance for the Jewish people: ■ First, the fast-growing dependence of China on Middle Eastern oil, and that of the main oil producers (Saudi Arabia, Iran) on the Chinese market. Within ten years this trend will overturn the current global strategic equations based on oil. Middle East stability will become a national priority for China. ■ Second, the relationship between Chinese Moslems and the Chinese majority (the Han Chinese) that is likely to become more difficult in the coming years. A new militancy can be found among some Chinese Moslems, who feel increasingly close to other parts of the Moslem world. Will China respond to troubles with appeasement, force,.