Sunday, July 06, 2008

The World according to China

There has been much discussion recently about how to 'manage the rise of China'. It gives us a sense of control and mastery, and of paternalistic superiority. With proper piloting and steady nerves on our part, the massive Chinese ship can be brought safely into harbor and put at anchor... But isn't it possible that China does not want to be integrated into a political and security system that it had no part in shaping? Might not China, like all rising powers of the past, including the United States, want to reshape the international system to suit its own purposes, commensurate with its new power?

2 Comments:

Blogger Rundudundu said...

China might certainly consider as its importance and influence growth to set the rules rather playing along the rules set by someone.

But I have one small doubt in my mind. China has over 1 billion citizens, it is a world in itself, the capacity of Chinese national administration is difficult to compare or imagine... All I am saying in the big picture, where Chinese Communist Party wants to remain in charge there is no way that China will try to challenge the current international order, from my point of view it will be a constructive player and a major global power, but following its national interests that are based on the need for stability and harmonious society.

6:12 PM  
Blogger Diogo said...

That's a quite big doubt :) and I guess it is shared by many people indeed... I don't have an answer, of course, but I think we all should be hoping the "wang" of peaceful politics wins over the "ba" of imposing supremacy by force.

12:35 PM  

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