China Vs. USA
China seems to be the last big Communist nation, the last big wall to cross for the free world. Does their recent push into space mean that this giant will be even harder to humble?
Quoted in part from:
Sara Just and the Nightline Staff
Nightline Offices Washington, D.C.
International Level: International Guru / Political Participation: 3229 100%
China has long been portrayed as a slumbering giant. Have no doubts about that! The mass of humanity under one nation is just sheer wonder. And Chinese being Chinese, a lot of overseas Chinese will still identify themselves with their 'ancestral motherland' especially my mom's generation. (today's generation does not show the same enthusiasm).
History has shown that China is not imperialistic, beyond its "middle kingdom" --- never has been, and most probably never will. So, is China a threat to its neighbors or the region? Not very much. But don't be fooled by this attitude; if they are threatened, the Chinese will fight hard to defend themselves.
The real threat comes from the outside world, in this case, (sigh) again the US. The US has been "teasing" (to use a mild word) China, and has been using Taiwan to prod China to 'make a mistake' giving the US the excuse to go in and 'change the regime'. But I think the Chinese leadership is smart enough ..... they will not be provoked to response until they are in a stronger position to do so. They have time and they are very patient. A firm hand in law and order (not US laws, mind you, but their own just like any sovereign nation has), and at the same time a Confucian style (ala Singapore's) guidance into the new millenium modernity. Look at them now, and look at the hurried transformation of the Russians. Who is better off now?
China, throughout history, has always been a trading partner, not a colonising power. We in Southeast Asia, we know. Our forefathers came as traders, immigrant workers, intermarried the locals, etc., long before the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British colonised the region!
China is a stabilising force in this region and I am glad they are getting stronger so as to offset any unwanted and unwarranted self-centered interests from the others.
QUOTE |
The real threat comes from the outside world, in this case, (sigh) again the US. |
International Level: Ambassador / Political Participation: 595 59.5%
I would'nt want to start a fight with a nation where the only possible outcome for victory would be to drop another big bomb,and another,and so on.Our ground forces could never handle what they have,though I doubt china would contest it either,we(america)have a history of overcoming impossible odds,thats something you have to consider.
I think both sides would rather not contimplate such issues.
We (U.S.)need to focus more on ourselves than the price of tea in china.
New World Order Taking Shape
NEW TARIFF-FREE WORLD MAY SPEED CHINA'S GLOBAL RISE BUT HURT OTHERS
Readying to host the 2008 Olympics, stretching beyond Asia to acquire coveted resources and icons of corporate might, China is steadily accelerating its ascent as a global economic power.
Ref. https://deseretnews.com/dn/view/1%2C1249%2C...00032%2C00.html
If the economy keeps developing in the same fashion as it is doing now, in 50 years, China will possibly be one of the financial strongest nations in the world. It has an immense economic growth, due to the large amount of money invested by foreign companies. Many companies are moving into China due to the production-costs being quite low.
So I suppose China certainly could pose a risk to the USA current role in the world.
International Level: New Activist / Political Participation: 21 2.1%
There's definitely huge potential for economic growth in China right now. We could argue whether China is really "communist", but they have opened up their markets just enough for corporations like Ford and Volkswagen to move on in.. The cost is obviously in American jobs as labor is cheaper and in the degradation of our environment as regulations on omissions are pretty much non-existent there.
It'll be interesting to see what happens in the next few decades. Chinese engineers are supposedly even rivaling the ingenuity of German engineers (as some people have argued in a recent publication by ASME).
Aren't the Olympics coming up in China soon? I think it's safe to say that China will become the focus of policy and mass-media features in the not-so-distant future.
Chinese schoolchildren have always been high-scorers in the global education tests. Ironically, America has traditionally scored near the bottom of industrialized nations. It is no surprise that many other nations have been developing technology to rival, or even surpass, American technology.
The economic stance of other nations is also not surprising. The American economy is constantly teetering on the head of a pin, being pulled down by a multi-trillion dollar debt. The only thing keeping us from experiencing another depression is the traditional use of the US Dollar as an international trading medium, especially for oil. It is very likely that this will soon be replaced the EU Euro.
So, better education and the readiness of a better economy are awaiting a population of about 1 billion. Mandarin Chinese is the most widely-spoken first language ("mother tongue") in the world, making it possible for Mandarin to become a means of international communications.
I think there is a strong possibility for China, if it should choose, to become a new Rome or Britain. Rome at one time controlled about 2/3rds of the known world. A saying from the 1800-1900's was "the sun never sets on the British flag." This may be probable, but definitely possible. I don't think America truly has the wherewithal to carry out global strategic operations (although it does try).