Geopolitics and the Rise of China
China's rise leaves West wondering
The Bush administration came to power convinced that China was America's strategic competitor. But then came 9/11. To Beijing's enormous relief, Washington's focus shifted to terrorism, and there was less attention on China's discreet military build-up.
Nevertheless, Pentagon planners are concerned about developments, and US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has said much of China's arms spending is being concealed.
Ambassador Sha responded strongly to the allegations. "It's better for the US to shut up," he said. "Keep quiet. It's much, much better."
This is a crucial question for China's future. Will it be just an economic superpower content to sell the world shoes and washing machines? Or will it have the military muscle to protect its new interests around the world?
Comments
Ah, what good is muscle without acumen?
Posted by: dave | August 17, 2006 9:47 AM
With every passing year, China seems more and more to embrace capitalism, economic growth and the prosperity it brings. Its foreign policy has been focused towards this almost entirely -- just look at their trade deals in the past couple of years, and their resolution of the vast majority of their border disputes in the last ten years or so. However great their military build-up, I can't help but feel it's more to protect their economic interests than to try to spread their capitalist communism militarily. Such adventures would not be in their interests.
Posted by: Rick | August 17, 2006 4:38 PM
Ambassador Sha is a bit rude. I think it is related to his frustration that this question kept popping up. Sha was a PLA supply officer and Chief Arms Negotiator before. So he knows about the military thing a lot - a true expert.
So far, the state of the art Chinese military equipment are Russian made - which has a lag from western weaponry for at least 10 years. And the Chinese didn't even get the most advanced Russian versions. So you can see the irony - suspicions from the US - which accounts for 50% world military spending - questions a 3rd rate military power sourcing weapons from a 2nd rate military supplier.
Besides, China is the only country forces its own population to contract by state decree. So it goes the expansionist theory. And the Chinese never harbors any kind of racial superiority or religious superiority ....
Posted by: peter wang | October 24, 2006 11:39 PM