I don't really know what to make of it. On the one hand, China does have a lousy human rights track record, is still quite corrupt and is basically an aristocracy (And we know how aristocracies turn out right? eg. French Revolution). However, it seems as if the situation over there is improving and perhaps the (North) Americans are worried about their own dominance on the global scene being threatened by the new kid on the block? Maybe after years of being the only superpower in the world, the States (okie, I can't really speak for Canada, cos I don't know nothing aboot it) is fretting that soon, when it says "Jump" people will not only NOT say "How high" but instead will say "What for?".
I'm definitely biased in this case. I hope that China cleans up its act (ideally within the next 10-20 years) and shows the world that Asians are more than pretty Japanese/Korean/Taiwanese school girls with weird fetishes.
Perhaps then, the Americans will realise the hubris they have had for the last 20 odd years or so and try to integrate into the global society instead of trying to play Punk'd with everybody else.
I do realise that this desire to see China emerge is fuelled in part by a desire to see the States taken down a notch or two. But I don't think it's malicious. It's more of a "just desserts" kind of feeling. I'm sure the people who heard me argue this out at Starbucks can vouch for me. (Right guys? *wink wink*)
Well, that's just how I feel personally. In any case, I think that China can't be stopped. It's really a rising dragon. So everyone will have to adapt to the new socio-economic landscape whether they like it or not.
P.S - Let's hear what you guys think okie? If you're scared of detention or anything, use a fake name.
1 comment:
Ware on this one, bro. Whilst I'm certainly on the same page as you with regards to this argument, a word of caution about aligning oneself too fully to the "China cause" - just cause you're Chinese and possibly feel some empathy with the Chinese folk, doesn't necessarily mean that the feeling is mutual. Your standing, amongst the Chinese, is probably in this order: PRC > Hongkonger > Ang Moh > Taiwanese > ... > you. Yeah, that's about how much they care about you.
That aside however, I do believe that the American government or media does have a bone to pick with China. China is the proverbial scapegoat for all of their problems - budget deficits, unemployment, defence spending... It's just such hubris to always look to external sources for the causes of internal decay. No retrospection. No self-examination. As the Chinese say, "反省". I guess it's easy for the government to redirect attention and blame towards China all the time, I just can't believe that the thinking American public would swallow it hook, line and sinker.
The fact of the matter is, it isn't about human rights. It isn't about corruption, or the rights of the Taiwanese, or freedom of speech. It's about the US being scared. Scared that it's position as the only dipshit-who-can-kick-everyone's-asses economically or militarily might one day be undermined by another nation, another people. China will never out-tech America militarily.
Come on, even though China does spend signifant amounts on its defence budget, America's spending far outweighs China's. So unless future US presidents insist on obsessing over Star Wars-ish missile defence shields and other inordinately expensive projects with meagre returns, China will never be on equal footing with America militarily. And besides, who is the US to question China's right to build up a respectable defence force? After all, the US wasn't the nation that was invaded, defeated and forced to unfair treaty terms in the Opium Wars. My knowledge of US history is sketchy at best (so I would gladly bow to superior knowledge in this area), but the only notable war I can recall being fought on US soil would be the Civil War. What gives them the right to critise another nation's defence spending? "Since no nation threatens China, one wonders: Why this growing investment?", I quote the ever quotable Donald Rumsfield. Oh really? And which nation threatens the US? Whatever antagonism the US has garnered from the rest of the world is fully deserved. You would have thought they would have learnt their lesson about sticking their noses in other people's businesses by now.
Economically, sure, there may be a real threat there (I gather this from reading newspapers articles and not from self-professed knowledge, given that I know da shits about Econs 101). But once again, America has no one to blame but itself. The US has grown overly comfortable in its role as sole economic superpower, causing it to overspend dramatically. Like seriously, how can the world's richest nation also have the largest debt? And a current accounts deficit AND a budget deficit? Like... wow. The US should be thankful,in fact, that China keeps gobbling up its Treasury Bonds, since its economy would suffer a bad shock should China suddenly decide stocking up on US Treasury Bonds isn't such a great idea. And the thing about China stealing jobs? That's just plain bullshit. It's blatant protectionism and politics. Period. Every damn report has indicated that shifting low cost production to China is beneficial to the US economy in general. But hey, I guess some folk hear and don't listen.
Ok, enough about economics. One more point to quibble before I sign off. "China does have a lousy human rights track record, is still quite corrupt and is basically an aristocracy..." Yeah? How about Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib? At least China isn't hypocritical and calls a spade a spade. What about the political protesters who were chased off the streets when George Bush came to town to campaign (I read this in an article somewhere, but if you challenge me on it, I'll just concede seeing as I can't remember where)? Like hello, 1st amendment, anyone? Corruption? Don't tell me it doesn't occur in the States. Private campaign donations? Enron & WorldCom? I can't remember if Xerox was mired in scandal as well... And the US, being a bipartisan nation, will not necessarily do better than an aristocracy - after all, both parties have their support groups so mired in their own stances that it is nigh impossible for either party to change their party rhetoric and hope to get elected. So, for better or for worse, they'll be plodding, more or less, along the same old paths.
And last, you didn't mention this point, but I simply have to, since it bugs the hell out of me that the States has such obvious double standards. 'The world has to abide by the decisions of the UN. Well, except myself of course, since I KNOW for a fact that that bastard Saddam is hiding WOMD in his half-assed desert, and hence I can ignore the UN and fight a unilateral, PREEMPTIVE war. Ya see, it's not enough I fight other peoples' wars, now I gotta start 'em too!' And of course 'We demand that China abides by its new responisbilities as a respectable member of the WTO. Open up your damn markets, and unpeg your currency, dammit! Of course, even though the WTO has official abolished all import quotas and restrictions as of January 2005, I don't give a booyah! And Europe is forced to follow my lead in reimposing import quotas as a result. Oh yeah, I'm the fairest nation around.' And don't even get me started on the Bryd Amendment. So please... who is the US to pass judgement on anyone?
Haha, reading through all this, I realised I kinda went off tangent (perhaps even way off) with regards to the interesting article posted (which is simply about US public opinion on China, nothing to do with US fiscal policies and stuff), but what the hell, I typed it all out, no way I'm gonna delete it and just leave. So, for better or worse, here are the comments.
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