tag:newsweek.washingtonpost.com,2008:/postglobal/367 2008-05-06T14:46:52Z Movable Type Enterprise 1.53 tag:newsweek.washingtonpost.com,2008:/postglobal/kinming_liu//406.39108 2008-05-06T14:21:37Z 2008-05-06T14:37:19Z

It's really extraordinary for knee-jerk anti-American Europeans to view the Middle Kingdom as more dangerous than the Great Satan.

Kin-ming Liu Current Discussion: In his recent PostGlobal blog post, "The Ugly Chinese," commentator John Pomfret says the world's perception of China isn't as rosy as it used to be. Do you see China as a threat? Why? Why not? HONG KONG – Clear-eyed observers of China are a rare breed, but Steven Mosher is one of them. In his brilliant 1991 book, China Misperceived: American Illusions and Chinese Reality, Mosher wrote: "For the past two centuries, American perceptions of China have oscillated between the poles of love and hate. In brighter moments China was seen as the land of Marco Polo and Pearl Buck, peopled with wise, industrious, and courageous folk. But regularly, almost cyclically, the pendulum swung back, and the cruel and violent China of the Mongol hordes, the Boxer Rebellion, and the 'human wave' attacks reasserted itself. The Chinese heroes of the anti-Japanese resistance became the totalitarian masses of the 1950s, the riotous young rebels of the 1960s, the public-spirited proletarians of the 1970s, and the poor but deserving folk of the 1980s. The Tiananmen massacre has once again tilted the balance, and the pendulum has swung to the other dark extreme." ]]> tag:newsweek.washingtonpost.com,2008:/postglobal/bashir_goth//418.39122 2008-05-06T14:07:31Z 2008-05-06T21:15:53Z

China has become the only open market for small African and Asian businessmen.

Bashir Goth China makes into way to the hearts and minds of developing countries by building roads, sports stadiums, national theatres and water wells. Chinese businessmen come to Africa, for example, with a spade, hammer and cash in one hand and their cheap merchandise and business deals in the other. Mention America, and people will immediately think of its firepower; mention China, and people will point at everything they use in their homes, offices and farms. tag:newsweek.washingtonpost.com,2008:/postglobal/miklos_vamos//399.39110 2008-05-06T13:41:40Z 2008-05-06T14:44:46Z

China's rise shouldn't threaten the rest of the world.

Miklos Vamos Current Discussion: In his recent PostGlobal blog post, "The Ugly Chinese," commentator John Pomfret says the world's perception of China isn't as rosy as it used to be. Do you see China as a threat? Why? Why not? Europeans and “ugly” Americans really do not need more threats from other parts of the world. We already threaten our own countries and continents. We act against ourselves all the time, starting with pollution and ending with aggression. The real question goes like this: is it possible that in the span of a decade, or an even shorter period, China might become the world’s leader in terms of economic potential? My answer is a strong yes. Could China become the world’s leader in terms of political and military potential? My answer is a weak yes. But let’s take that question further: Would that be such a bad thing for us? I don’t know, but I don’t think so. Previous policemen of the world weren’t any better: let’s not mention the late Soviet Union, or the Tartar hordes or the Wehrmacht. So, let us not worry. It wouldn’t hurt to start to study Chinese, though. I have heard it is an extremely difficult language, and it is also an extremely beautiful one. ]]> tag:newsweek.washingtonpost.com,2008:/postglobal/ali_ettefagh//400.39142 2008-05-05T20:29:00Z 2008-05-08T20:30:28Z

The rest of the world is not in a position to stop, disarm or influence China with threats of force, sanctions, or a rerun of the Cold War.

Ali Ettefagh First, a few thoughts on the wording of this question: The modern vocabulary in use is probably the most noticeable, and dangerously undiplomatic, of all. Lately, the word “threat” and off-the-cuff sounding of false alarms is used in a faux, if not disingenuous, debate. Those who cannot see the light insist on turning up the heat, quick to dispense irresponsible labels.