In fact, China clearly demonstrated its determination to stand up against the US in the spy plane crisis. The present phase of China's diplomatic policy therefore involves dealing with US hegemony by using the growing Chinese market as its bargaining chip. Consequently, most countries with which China tries to build ties are old friends in the Third World in desperate need of China's financial assistance. What is noteworthy is that, even though China is still the Big Brother of its old friends, they are not united by ideology. Economic interaction between them is of greater importance.
China adopts a similar ap-proach with European countries it intends to befriend.
For example, China provides preferential economic conditions or simplified administrative procedures for the importation of goods from these countries to lure them into the Chinese market and to foster good relations. In fact, Taiwan has great difficulty trying to decide on a specific order of priority. The position of Japan is instructive in this regard. Since China is currently not bound by any international economic organizations or agreements, it has become a major unauthorized source of agricultural products for Japanese consumers. Japan can only adopt administrative measures that have a superficial effect on restricting the import of such products, in order to protect its farmers.