WORLD AFFAIRS

Forced Off The Fence

The conflict in Georgia threatens China's neutrality and could push it to take sides in a new cold war.

By Mary Hennock | NEWSWEEK
Published Aug 23, 2008
From the magazine issue dated Sep 1, 2008

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  • Posted By: pilipino @ 08/29/2008 4:29:38 AM

    The author of this article is no China expert. "Blessed by history . . ." Britain is the prime candidate who should be stripped of its permanent seat at he SC. Why? Here's why. 1st, Western civilization is already over- represented by USA & France. 2nd, Britain is English speaking which the USA is also. 3rd, Britain just hangs on to the coattails of the Americans & does not have an independent foreign policy.





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  • Posted By: ChristianAmerican @ 08/27/2008 4:54:11 PM

    "Blessed by history with permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council" This is a misleading and arrogant statement. The one with a brain in the world questions the permanent seat of China, unlike Britain and France. Recent decisions by France and Britain to maintain and renew nuclear submarines is partly due to a fear of losing the permanent membership. China and USA and Russia are justfied their presence in the security council by their econmic size, ICBMs and landmass.

  • Posted By: nawawimohamad @ 08/27/2008 12:46:16 AM

    The West/US has apparently been successful in manipulating China to believe that it is now a successful giant to be respected. China has even been acknowledged to be the other "superpower".The West has given all praises and glad tidings to the Chinese hoping that China will be on their side when the West is facing Russia. However China throughout history has always have a mistrust towards the West and even until now the mistrust is there. On the other hand China is too dependent on the West for its economy. Infact its economy although apparently seems to be in good shape is actually very fragile. China will have to remain openly neutral or slightly bent towards the West, but this will not stop it from having a serious affair with Russia.

  • Posted By: Emilda @ 08/25/2008 3:59:14 PM

    There is an interesting suggestion from Steve Levine. The Russians have a big weakness. The West should keep in mind Russia's Achilles Heel while dealing with Putin and Medvedev. Levine knows this area, having covered wars in Chechnya, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Nagorno-Karabakh, Tajikistan as well as the Soviet-Afghan war: http://oilandglory.com/2008/08/russias-achilles-heel.html

  • Posted By: wenlin0801 @ 08/25/2008 3:44:32 AM

    China will certainly side with Russia when in the event they have to choose side. From your point of view, this may not be a good move. But in the long term, this will be good for the world. Your magazine must try to hire real expert who truely understand China. I don't think you have such "expert" until now, Mr. Zakaria as the rare exception.

  • Posted By: wenlin0801 @ 08/25/2008 3:38:44 AM

    Because people like you do not understand the sentiment in China, you drew the wrong conclusion. China will side with Russia when in the event they have to take side. From your point of view, this may be a wrong move. But time will tell this may not be bad for the world.

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