// BEGIN editorial data
 var i = 0;
var ChinaUSDisputes = new Array();
ChinaUSDisputes.ID = "ChinaUSDisputes";
ChinaUSDisputes.ID_WB = 12272023;
ChinaUSDisputes.sPubDate = "4/11/2006 10:07:54 PM GMT";
ChinaUSDisputes.navsectionID = "3032071"
ChinaUSDisputes.appFmt = 2;
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ChinaUSDisputes.appWidth = 460;
ChinaUSDisputes.appHeader = "U.S.-China relations |PACIFIC FRICTIONS";
ChinaUSDisputes.appDeck = "These two giants facing off across the Pacific have a massive economic relationship. They align on some key geopolitical issues, but they also have areas of friction that threaten to escalate. Click on topics at left to learn more about the disputes.";
ChinaUSDisputes.appFooter = "Source: MSNBC.com";
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ChinaUSDisputes.copyWidth = 340;
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ChinaUSDisputes[i++] = new Array("","Trade deficit","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
ChinaUSDisputes[i-1].body = "The imbalance hit a record $202 billion in China's favor at the end of 2005, prompting U.S. lawmakers to threaten punitive moves unless Beijing lowers market barriers in to U.S. services and goods. China says the U.S. shares the blame because it bars sales to China of high-tech items that have military applications.";

ChinaUSDisputes[i++] = new Array("","Currency","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
ChinaUSDisputes[i-1].body = "Beijing's critics say the Chinese currency is set artificially low, which makes its exports cheap and conversely makes foreign imports expensive for Chinese consumers. Despite gradual reform of its currency system and slight appreciation of the yuan, Beijing won’t allow the currency to float freely because of volatility fears.";

ChinaUSDisputes[i++] = new Array("","Intellectual property rights","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
ChinaUSDisputes[i-1].body = "Piracy is more the rule than the exception in China, say U.S. industry advocates. According to 2004 industry estimates, software piracy in China cost U.S. companies more than $1 billion and music piracy cost U.S. companies about $280 million.";

ChinaUSDisputes[i++] = new Array("","Taiwan","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
ChinaUSDisputes[i-1].body = "For decades, the United States has kept a delicate balance with China and Taiwan. Washington has formal ties with Beijing, and supports its “One-China Policy,” but is poised to defend Taiwan if it is invaded. Taiwan’s leadership, however, has been challenging the status quo. Its moves towards formal independence have prompted threats from China and nervousness in Washington, which does not want to be entangled in a Pacific conflict.";

ChinaUSDisputes[i++] = new Array("","Human rights","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
ChinaUSDisputes[i-1].body = "Beijing’s suppression of political activists, labor organizers, social activists, and religious and ethnic groups has long been a mainstay of U.S. complaints against China. This remains unchanged. However, reports of U.S. abuses at Abu Ghraib prison and long-term detention without charges of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba have prompted Chinese leaders to fire back on human rights.";

ChinaUSDisputes[i++] = new Array("","Iran and North Korea","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
ChinaUSDisputes[i-1].body = "While the Bush administration has taken a hard line on these two nations for their alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons, China generally opposes harsh measures in both cases. As a fellow permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, Beijing is in a position to veto tough measures pushed by Washington in that international body.";

	// END editorial data