The Rise of a Fierce Yet Fragile Superpower
But while the conditions exist for peace and cooperation, there are also many factors pointing in the other direction. As China grows in strength, it grows in pride and nationalist feeling—which will be on full display at the Summer Olympic Games. Beijing's mandarin class is convinced that the United States wishes it ill. Washington, meanwhile—sitting atop a unipolar order—is unused to the idea of sharing power or accommodating another great power's interests. Flashpoints like human rights, Taiwan or some unforeseen incident could spiral badly in an atmosphere of mistrust and with domestic constituencies—on both sides—eager to sound tough. Two thousand eight is the year of China. It should also be the year we craft a serious long-term China policy.
© 2007


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Member Comments
Posted By: renderr @ 08/12/2008 2:13:24 AM
Comment: to spiritfire88:
You are one funny person. I couldn't help but laugh the whole way through your post. Did you really expect people to take it seriously when it is so full of nationalistic garbage? How old are you, really?
Posted By: yang_kate @ 07/20/2008 9:45:48 PM
Comment: ang ganda ko
Posted By: kelisi @ 02/14/2008 11:55:20 PM
Comment: I grow weary of the Chinese tendency to go "tit for tat" when their government or anything about their country is criticized. "Well, you're worse!!!" It's like the "I'm rubber, you're glue" thing we used to do as kids. With Chinese it's never the criticism itself that's the issue as much as who is saying it. As an American living in China I see lots of positive things happening here and lots of negative as well. Most Chinese who have the means to post comments here are probably doing pretty well in the "new" China. Half a billion or so others definitely are not. You won't hear from them on forums like this one. Keep that in mind.